Karaban Leads UConn to Sweet 16 with 73-57 Win Over UCLA

Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points to power the Huskies past the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:04am

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Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points and led the second-seeded UConn Huskies to a 73-57 victory over the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Tournament. The win sends UConn back to the Sweet 16, where they will face third-seeded Michigan State. Coach Dan Hurley has the Huskies back in a familiar spot after they were bounced in the second round last year.

Why it matters

UConn is a perennial college basketball powerhouse, having won two national championships in the last three years under Coach Hurley. Their return to the Sweet 16 continues their quest for a third title and solidifies their status as one of the top programs in the country.

The details

Karaban was the driving force for UConn, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 11 points in the first half to help the Huskies build a lead. The Bruins, playing without leading scorer Tyler Biloudeau due to injury, had no answer for Karaban or the rest of the UConn offense. Tarris Reed Jr. added a double-double for the Huskies, while Braylon Mullins scored 17 points.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Alex Karaban

A fourth-year senior at UConn who scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Huskies to victory.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies, who has led the team to two national championships in the last three years.

Tyler Biloudeau

The leading scorer for UCLA, who missed the game due to a sprained knee injury.

Xavier Booker

The leading scorer for UCLA in the game with 13 points.

Bill Murray

The famous actor and UConn fan, whose son Luke is an assistant coach for the Huskies.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Huskies will play third-seeded Michigan State in the East Region semifinals on Friday night in Washington.

The takeaway

UConn's return to the Sweet 16 continues their quest for a third national championship under Coach Hurley, solidifying their status as one of the top college basketball programs in the country.