Xavier Musketeers Fall to No. 3 UConn Huskies

Huskies Dominate from Beyond the Arc in Big East Matchup

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The Xavier Musketeers traveled to Hartford, Connecticut to take on the No. 3 ranked UConn Huskies in a Big East conference matchup. Despite snapping a 3-game skid in their previous game, the Musketeers were unable to keep up with the hot-shooting Huskies, who prevailed 82-63.

Why it matters

This loss drops Xavier to 12-11 overall and 4-8 in Big East play, putting them in a tough spot as they try to make a push for the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, UConn continues to strengthen its case as one of the top teams in the country, improving to 22-1 on the season and remaining undefeated in conference play.

The details

UConn dominated the game from beyond the arc, connecting on 49.1% of their 3-point attempts. This included a 27-for-55 performance over their last two games. Defensively, the Huskies held Xavier to just 28.8% shooting from deep since January 10th. In the first meeting between these teams, UConn outscored Xavier by 27 points on 3-pointers. The Huskies also held a significant rebounding advantage, leading to second-chance opportunities and easy baskets around the rim.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET.
  • Xavier had previously lost 3 straight games before snapping that skid in their last outing on Saturday.
  • UConn entered the game riding a 17-game winning streak after their most recent victory on Saturday.

The players

UConn Huskies

The No. 3 ranked team in the country, the UConn Huskies are one of the top programs in college basketball and remain undefeated in Big East play this season.

Xavier Musketeers

The Xavier Musketeers are struggling this season, sitting at 12-11 overall and 4-8 in Big East conference play as they try to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to improve our perimeter defense and rebounding if we want to compete with the top teams in the conference.”

— Travis Steele, Head Coach, Xavier Musketeers (greenvilleonline.com)

What’s next

Xavier will look to bounce back in their next game against Seton Hall, while UConn will try to keep their winning streak alive against Villanova.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams, as the dominant Huskies were able to overwhelm the struggling Musketeers with their 3-point shooting and rebounding prowess. Xavier will need to shore up those areas if they hope to make a late-season push for the NCAA Tournament.