UConn Dominates Furman in March Madness Opener

Huskies cruise past Paladins in NCAA Tournament first-round matchup

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:33am

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No. 2 seed UConn easily handled No. 15 seed Furman, winning 92-67 in their March Madness NCAA Tournament first-round East Region game on Friday, March 20. The Huskies were heavily favored and lived up to expectations, using a dominant second half to pull away from the overmatched Paladins.

Why it matters

UConn's victory sets up a potential showdown with a top seed in the next round, as the Huskies look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after a disappointing loss in the Big East tournament championship game. Furman's tournament appearance was still a successful season for the small school, but they were simply outmatched by the size and talent of the Huskies.

The details

UConn led by just 5 points at halftime, but used a 24-6 run early in the second half to pull away. The Huskies' size and defensive pressure proved too much for Furman, as UConn outrebounded the Paladins 42-28 and forced 16 turnovers. Adama Sanogo led UConn with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Alex Wilkins had 18 points for Furman in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 7 p.m. MST.
  • UConn led by just 5 points, 39-34, at halftime.

The players

Adama Sanogo

UConn's star center, who led the team with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Alex Wilkins

Furman's standout freshman, who scored a team-high 18 points in the loss.

Danny Hurley

UConn's head coach, who led the Huskies to the victory after their disappointing Big East tournament loss.

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What they’re saying

“UConn laid an egg in the Big East tournament championship game. Something tells us that Danny Hurley and the Huskies will use that as fuel in March Madness.”

— Jeremy Cluff

“Though the Huskies have not been as dominant as many expected this season, this is still a really good team. Furman's Alex Wilkins has been one of the best freshmen in the country, but UConn's interior should be the difference.”

— Jay Bilas

What’s next

UConn will face the winner of the North Carolina-VCU game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 22.

The takeaway

UConn proved its status as an elite program, bouncing back from its Big East tournament loss to easily handle the Cinderella-seeking Furman Paladins. The Huskies' size, depth, and defensive intensity were too much for the smaller Furman squad, setting up a potential showdown with a top seed in the next round.