UConn Men’s Basketball Defeats Michigan state 76-69 in Exhibition Game
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men’s basketball team secured a 76-69 victory over Michigan State in an exhibition game on Monday, showcasing a promising performance despite significant foul trouble and the absence of their starting center. The Huskies built a lead in the first half and maintained it through a second half marked by a high volume of whistles.
Despite the exhibition status, the game was notable for its physicality, resulting in a combined 77 fouls called throughout the contest. Michigan State was awarded 38 free throws in the first half alone, with 17 of their 33 first-half points coming from the line. UConn overcame this challenge, leading by 11 at halftime.
The second half saw continued foul calls, with 10 total fouls assessed before the first media timeout.UConn utilized a small-ball lineup featuring Karaban,Stewart,and Koroma at the five position due to foul trouble,and Demary Jr. demonstrated smooth offensive play. Back-to-back three-pointers from Ross and Smith,followed by a triple from Karaban,fueled an 11-0 run that extended UConn’s lead.
Michigan State managed to cut the deficit to nine points, but key plays from Ball and Ross helped UConn regain control. The Huskies closed out the game despite some late sloppiness.
UConn demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity, offering a positive outlook as they prepare for the start of the regular season.The team will next host New Haven in Gampel Pavilion next Monday.
