Karaban's career night sends UConn back to Sweet 16 after Huskies lock down UCLA late

Senior Alex Karaban scores 27 points to lead UConn past UCLA in NCAA Tournament second round

Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:05am

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UConn senior Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Huskies to a 73-57 victory over UCLA in the NCAA Tournament second round. Karaban ignited the UConn offense early and made key plays down the stretch as the Huskies pulled away from the Bruins. The win sends UConn back to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons.

Why it matters

Karaban, the all-time winningest player in UConn history, has been a driving force for the Huskies throughout his career. His performance against UCLA showcases his ability to step up in big moments and lead UConn deep into the NCAA Tournament, as the program looks to add to its storied legacy.

The details

Karaban scored 11 of UConn's first 15 points as the Huskies struggled to establish their offense against UCLA's interior defense. He continued to attack throughout, making key shots to fend off Bruin rallies in the second half. Karaban's 10-point outburst during a 14-0 UConn run put the game out of reach, and he sealed the victory by sinking free throws after a technical foul on UCLA coach Mick Cronin.

  • UConn defeated Furman 73-54 in the first round on March 21, 2026.
  • The UConn-UCLA second-round matchup took place on March 23, 2026.

The players

Alex Karaban

A senior at the University of Connecticut and the all-time winningest player in program history. Karaban led the Huskies with 27 points in their second-round NCAA Tournament victory over UCLA.

Tarris Reed, Jr.

A UConn player who had a dominant performance with 31 points and 27 rebounds in the Huskies' first-round win over Furman.

Solo Ball

A UConn player who was unable to convert on open shots in the first half against UCLA.

Braylon Mullins

A UConn player who was unable to convert on open shots in the first half against UCLA.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the University of Connecticut men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“What you're going to see, what you saw or what you've seen in this NCAA Tournament, is a guy that's attacking the game. He's aggressively looking for all of his shots, he's working his way to the ball, he's driving the ball. I just think that he learned a lot from that Big East championship game (and) that game at Marquette, where he left those games not going out on his shield the way a player of his caliber should. I think that's the difference. He's not going down without firing all of his bullets.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, University of Connecticut

“I think just having him on this team and having the experience in this tournament, I think he can just take us wherever we need to go. We all have the confidence in him, and he's our leader. We all look up to him, he holds the standard with this program.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn Player

“It's a motivating factor for myself. I ultimately came back here to win. Every time I've had a decision to come back, I came back just wanting to win and help this team out, but (I'm) also just enjoying every second I have in a UConn jersey.”

— Alex Karaban

What’s next

The Huskies will face the winner of the Gonzaga-TCU second-round matchup in the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

Alex Karaban's career-high performance in the NCAA Tournament second round showcases his ability to lead UConn to success on the biggest stage. His experience and winning pedigree have been invaluable for the Huskies, who are now just two wins away from returning to the Final Four.