Fifth-ranked UConn delivered a commanding 74-61 victory over No. 13 Illinois on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, showcasing the defending national champions' ability to control games against top-tier competition. The Huskies never trailed throughout the contest, establishing early dominance and maintaining their grip despite a furious second-half comeback attempt by the Fighting Illini.
A Dominant First Half Sets the Tone
UConn's offense clicked from the opening tip, with
Solo Ball leading the charge with 15 points, including 13 in the first half on 6-of-14 shooting. The Huskies' balanced attack proved too much for Illinois to handle early, as they built a comfortable cushion heading into halftime.
Malachi Smith orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing with 14 points and 9 assists, while
Alex Karaban contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds to anchor the frontcourt.
The Huskies' performance reflected the championship pedigree they've carried since winning the 2024 national title. Coach Danny Hurley's squad improved to 15-8 at Madison Square Garden under his tenure and extended their winning record at the venue to 9 wins in their last 11 games.
Illinois Mounts Late Charge But Falls Short
Illinois refused to go quietly into the night. The Fighting Illini mounted a
second-half comeback effort led by
Kylan Boswell, who paced the team with a game-high 25 points.
Tomislav Ivisic added a double-double performance, providing crucial scoring and defensive presence as Illinois clawed back into contention.
The Illini's resurgence came after UConn had built commanding
17-point leads midway through the second half. Illinois scored 11 straight points to cut the deficit to 64-54 with 6:18 remaining, then sliced it further to 66-59 on an Ivisic three-pointer with 2:56 left. However, the comeback fell just short as UConn's experience and composure in crucial moments proved decisive.
The Turning Point
The decisive moment came when
Malachi Smith threw in an off-balance deep three-pointer while being fouled, converting the four-point play just 49 seconds after Illinois had cut the lead to single digits. That clutch bucket essentially sealed the victory and demonstrated why UConn remains among the nation's elite programs.
Illinois' shooting struggles throughout the contest ultimately proved too difficult to overcome. While Boswell's 25-point performance kept the Illini competitive, the team couldn't generate enough consistent offensive firepower to match UConn's balanced attack.
What's Next
UConn (6-1) will look to continue its winning ways when it
visits Kansas on Tuesday night in another marquee matchup. Illinois (6-2) will attempt to bounce back when it faces
No. 17 Tennessee on December 6 in Nashville.
The loss marks Illinois' second defeat of the season but shouldn't overshadow a strong start to the campaign. Meanwhile, UConn's victory reinforces its status as a national championship contender capable of winning games in multiple ways against quality opponents.
**
1.
CBS Sports - No. 5 UConn beats No. 13 Illinois 74-612.
Illinois Athletics - #13 Illinois Goes Cold in Loss to #5 UConn3.
ESPN - UConn 74-61 Illinois Game Recap4.
Daily Illini - Shooting struggles sink No. 13 Illinois
Sources
1. No. 5 UConn beats No. 13 Illinois 74-61 - CBS Sports
2. #13 Illinois Goes Cold in Loss to #5 UConn at Madison Square Garden
3. UConn 74-61 Illinois (Nov 28, 2025) Game Recap
4. Shooting struggles sink No. 13 Illinois against No. 5 UConn in New York
5. UConn men's basketball tops Illinois in top-15 matchup at MSG
6. Illinois basketball vs UConn recap: Illini lose on Black Friday
