The No. 5 UConn men’s basketball team (7-1) is set to host East Texas A&M (4-3) on December 8, 2024, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. The game will commence at 19:30 and will be broadcast on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, featuring commentary from John Fanta and Donny Marshall. This matchup marks the second consecutive season that the Huskies and the Lions have faced off, with UConn having previously won their only encounter 81-46 on November 19, 2024.
UConn heads into this game buoyed by a significant road victory earlier this week. The Huskies achieved a historic win over Kansas, marking their first triumph against the Jayhawks and ending a 23-game home non-conference winning streak for Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. This defeat was only the seventh for Kansas at home since the start of the 2003-04 season.
In that game, both Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins led the scoring for UConn, each contributing 17 points. Mullins, coming off the bench, also recorded five rebounds and a steal in just 23 minutes. UConn overcame a four-point deficit at halftime, taking control of the game with a personal 7-0 run from Alex Karaban early in the second half. The Huskies’ defense shone brightly, limiting Kansas to a mere 25.0 percent shooting in the second half and forcing the Jayhawks to miss seven of their last eight attempts.
UConn’s impressive defensive performance has elevated their KenPom defensive efficiency ranking to No. 7 nationally. The Huskies rank among the top ten in the country for scoring defense, effective field goal percentage against, assists per field goal made against, and block rate. Offensively, UConn is led by Solo Ball, who averages 14.6 points per game, closely followed by Alex Karaban at 13.8 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. rounds out the scoring threats with an average of 10.8 points and a team-high 5.6 assists per game. Additionally, Eric Reibe has been a key contributor, averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds over the last four games.
East Texas A&M enters this matchup with a record of 4-3 and is currently riding a three-game winning streak. The Lions recently claimed victory in the FDU Basketball Classic, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson and Army in Tenafly, New Jersey. Leading the Lions is Ronnie Harrison, who averages 14.0 points per game. He is supported by teammates Damian Garcia and Vinny Sigona, who contribute 10.8 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.
After facing East Texas A&M, UConn will return to action on December 9, 2024, when they visit Madison Square Garden for the Jimmy V Classic to take on No. 15 Florida. The upcoming schedule promises to be an exciting test for the Huskies as they aim to build momentum in the season.
