Solo Ball scores 12 points as No. 2 UConn beats East Texas A&M 81-46
STORRS, Conn. -- — Solo Ball scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half to lead second-ranked UConn to an 81-46 victory over East Texas A&M on Tuesday night.
Alex Karaban and Liam McNeeley added 11 points apiece, and Aidan Mahaney finished with 10 for the Huskies (4-0). Tarris Reed Jr. had nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks off the bench.
Camerin James had 18 points and four rebounds for East Texas A&M (1-4).
UConn, the two-time defending NCAA champion, led 26-17 with 5:57 left in the first half. The Huskies made their next five shots from the field and ended the period on a 16-3 run to take a 42-20 lead at the break.
East Texas A&M: It was a return to Connecticut for East Texas A&M coach Jaret von Rosenberg, who played at Hartford from 2005-09.
UConn: The Huskies had eight dunks as they outscored East Texas A&M 50-24 in the paint.
After the Lions pulled within nine, UConn guard Hassan Diarra made a steal and set up McNeeley's dunk. Diarra converted a driving layup on the next possession and later set up a dunk by Reed to help put the Huskies up by 22 at halftime.
UConn committed 30 turnovers in its first three games, with a season high of 13 in the opener against Sacred Heart. But the Huskies exceeded that mark with 11:22 left and finished with 19 miscues.
East Texas A&M plays at Oklahoma on Thursday night. UConn faces Memphis on Monday in the first of three games in three days at the Maui Invitational.
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This story corrects East Texas A&M's record.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Wally Rutecki
- A.J. Desai
- Tommy Morrissey
2024-25 Southland Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese | 8-0 | - | 14-5 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 6-2 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Nicholls | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| SE Louisiana | 5-3 | 3 | 11-8 |
| Lamar | 5-3 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Northwestern State | 5-3 | 3 | 8-10 |
| Houston Christian | 5-3 | 3 | 8-11 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 4-4 | 4 | 12-7 |
| Incarnate Word | 2-6 | 6 | 9-10 |
| New Orleans | 2-6 | 6 | 4-15 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 1-7 | 7 | 8-11 |
| East Texas A&M | 0-8 | 8 | 2-17 |
2024-25 Big East Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 7-1 | - | 16-3 |
| Marquette | 6-1 | 0.5 | 15-3 |
| UConn | 5-2 | 1.5 | 13-5 |
| Creighton | 5-2 | 1.5 | 12-6 |
| Villanova | 5-4 | 2.5 | 12-8 |
| Georgetown | 4-4 | 3 | 13-6 |
| Xavier | 4-4 | 3 | 12-7 |
| Providence | 3-5 | 4 | 9-10 |
| Butler | 1-6 | 5.5 | 8-10 |
| Seton Hall | 1-6 | 5.5 | 6-12 |
| DePaul | 1-7 | 6 | 10-9 |
Men's College Basketball News