No. 3 UConn Seeks 18th Straight Win at Xavier

Freshman Braylon Mullins returns from concussion protocol to lead Huskies' high-powered offense.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 4:47pm

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No. 3 UConn (21-1, 11-0 Big East) will look to extend its winning streak to 18 games when it visits Xavier (12-10, 4-7) on Tuesday night. Freshman Braylon Mullins scored 16 points in his return from concussion protocol, helping the Huskies cruise past Creighton 85-58 on Saturday. UConn features a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures, led by Solo Ball's 14.6 points per game. Xavier overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to beat DePaul 68-66 in its last outing, with Big East scoring leader Tre Carroll pouring in 21 points.

Why it matters

UConn is one of the top teams in the country and a win over Xavier would extend its impressive winning streak. The Huskies are looking to solidify their position as a national title contender, while Xavier is trying to build momentum after a recent rough stretch.

The details

Mullins returned from concussion protocol to score 16 points, including four 3-pointers, in UConn's 85-58 win over Creighton. Alex Karaban and Silas Demary Jr. each added 15 points for the Huskies, who shot 54.1% from the field and 51.6% from 3-point range. Xavier overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to beat DePaul 68-66, with Tre Carroll scoring 21 points and Filip Borovicanin hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

  • UConn defeated Creighton 85-58 on Saturday, January 28, 2026.
  • Xavier beat DePaul 68-66 on Saturday, January 28, 2026.
  • UConn and Xavier will face off on Tuesday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard for UConn who scored 16 points in his return from concussion protocol.

Tre Carroll

The leading scorer in the Big East, averaging 18.3 points per game for Xavier.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies.

Richard Pitino

The head coach of the Xavier Musketeers.

Solo Ball

UConn's leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“Getting back into practice Friday felt good, felt 100%. Transitioned that into (Saturday).”

— Braylon Mullins

“We've been looking for a performance like this for a while here, where we were able to get some separation and play a full 40-minute game.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn head coach

“I don't even know what to say, to be honest. I appreciate my guys for trusting me to take the shot at the end of the game.”

— Filip Borovicanin

“It's almost February. You have to win games like that in this league. There weren't a lot of things going for us this afternoon. To be able to block all of that out and lock in was great.”

— Richard Pitino, Xavier head coach

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's game between UConn and Xavier will take a step closer to securing a high seed in the upcoming Big East tournament.

The takeaway

UConn's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense have made them one of the top teams in the country, while Xavier has shown resilience in overcoming adversity to remain competitive in the Big East. This matchup between the two programs will be an important test for both teams as they look to position themselves for the postseason.