UConn Defeats Michigan 85-77 Led by Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr.
Silas Demary Jr. grabbed four assists without a turnover and scored 21 points to earn game MVP honors as the No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team defeated No. 16 Michigan 85-77 on Friday night at the TNT Sports Hall of Fame Series Boston presented by Amica.
The victory gave the Huskies a 2-0 record on the young season and marked their fourth win at TD Garden since 2024. Braylon Mullins led all scorers with 23 points for Connecticut.
How The Huskies Claimed Control in Boston
Michigan struck first with the opening basket of the night. Mullins answered immediately with a triple that sparked a 7-0 run for Connecticut. The Huskies never relinquished the lead after that opening minute. A transition three-pointer by Demary Jr. stretched the margin to 23-16 with 9:16 remaining in the first half. Connecticut closed out the opening stanza with a 9-0 surge, capped by a transition three from Colben Landrew that sent the Huskies into the locker room ahead 43-30. Demary Jr. tallied 17 points in the first half alone.
Early in the second half, Jayden Ross hit a pair of three-pointers to push the UConn lead to its largest of the night at 52-34 with 16:22 left on the clock. Michigan fought back during a six-plus minute field goal drought from the Huskies, taking advantage of mounting foul trouble. A three-pointer by Trey McKenney narrowed the gap to 64-55 with 9:09 remaining. Na’jai Hines answered with a put-back slam, and Nik Khamenia followed with a three-pointer to restore a double-digit cushion at 69-55. Michigan failed to draw within single digits again until the final minute.
Inside The Numbers From TD Garden
Physical play dominated the court, sending Connecticut to the free-throw line frequently. The Huskies converted 30 of 36 attempts from the charity stripe, marking their most made free throws in a single game since January 31, 2023. UConn shot 41.8 percent from the field overall, hitting 23 of 55 shots, and connected on 9 of 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins showing they are arguably the best backcourt in the country. Duo already with 19 points midway through the first half. UConn leads Michigan, 23-16.
Michigan finished 26-of-63 from the floor for 41.3 percent, but struggled from long distance by making just 7 of 28 three-point attempts. Trey McKenney paced the Wolverines with 22 points, all scored in the second half, while J.P. Estrella and Roddy Gayle Jr. added 18 points apiece. UConn perimeter defense limited 2026 Final Four MOP Elliot Cadeau to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting and five turnovers, while the Huskies forced 14 turnovers.
Landrew anchored the bench scoring for Connecticut with 14 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes of action. The Husky bench outscored Michigan’s reserves 18-8. Demary Jr. secured his second Hall of Fame Series Boston Game MVP award, averaging 21.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 6.5 rebounds across his career appearances at the event.
Looking Ahead to Storrs
The win brings UConn to 3-3 all-time against Michigan in a series dating back to 1939. The matchup served as a rematch of the 2026 national title game, continuing a historical trend where teams falling in the championship game now sit 5-6 in the following regular season meeting since 1996.
The Huskies return to Connecticut to host Wagner on Monday night at M&T Bank Center at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs for their season debut.
FINAL: No. 4 UConn 85, No. 16 Michigan 77 UConn wins title game rematch while staking claim as a title contender once again. Cruise control in second half. Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins were ELITE; Demary finished with 21-7-4, Mullins had 23 PTS. pic.twitter.com/E4ep6bLPLP