Tarris Reed Jr. recorded his eighth double-double of the season, collecting 24 points and 18 rebounds to go along with six blocks in UConn’s 75-63 win over host Providence on Saturday afternoon.
Reed scored 15 points during a 61.5-percent shooting effort in the first half for the Huskies (20-9, 12-6 Big East), who led 41-33 at halftime and by as many as 17 in the game.
UConn’s Alex Karaban (17 points), Solo Ball (14 points, four 3-pointers) and Liam McNeeley (14 points) also were double-figure scorers. Hassan Diarra had 10 assists.
The Huskies have now won back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 1.
Jayden Pierre led Providence (12-17, 6-12) with 10 points.
The first half featured seven lead changes and two ties, but UConn used a 5-0 run midway through to swing the game for good. The go-ahead spurt included Reed’s jumper with 10:07 left in the half and a Karaban reverse along the baseline.
After Oswin Erhunmwunse helped Providence to a 4-0 start, Ball hit a pair of 3-pointers to propel the visitors on an 8-3 run to take their first lead. Reed flushed a pair of dunks while scoring six straight UConn points, while a McNeeley wing three made it a two-possession lead.
The Friars took their last lead after a Wesley Cardet layup and Justyn Fernandez three with 11:18 left in the first half.
Two Christ Essandoko buckets and Pierre’s first trey brought the hosts back within two at the 4:43 mark, but Diarra set up two more Reed dunks thereafter and Karaban sank a triple and a buzzer-beating jumper inside in the final 1:12 before halftime.
Reed opened the second half with a 3-point play off an offensive rebound and putback. He scored the first five UConn points before a 5-0 Providence response, which included another Pierre triple to make it an eight-point game.
A 7-1 Huskies run saw Diarra hit a three and Reed finish a scoop layup at 14:39. After the Friars’ 8-2 answer included Bensley Joseph feeding a Mela dunk, Ball canned a 3-pointer and Karaban got his own rebound for a key 3-point play. An 8-0 run upped UConn’s lead to 13 with 7:22 left.
Reed set his career-high scoring mark by laying in Diarra’s over-the-top pass with 4:59 left.
