UConn Secures 74-61 Victory Over No. 13 Illinois at Madison Square Garden
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In a closely contested match, Solo Ball led the fifth-ranked UConn Huskies to a 74-61 win over No. 13 Illinois at Madison Square Garden on Friday. The Huskies maintained a lead throughout the game, despite a late comeback attempt by the Illini. Ball's impressive performance included 15 points, with 13 of those coming in the first half. He shot 6 of 14 from the field. Malachi Smith contributed 14 points and nine assists, while Alex Karaban added 12 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Braylon Mullins made his debut, playing 10 minutes and scoring two points. UConn shot 41% from the field and made 10 of 28 three-pointers in their third game against a ranked opponent. Kylan Boswell led Illinois with 25 points and nine rebounds. Tomislav Ivisic also had a notable performance, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Huskies took a pair of 17-point leads in the second half, but Illinois fought back, cutting the deficit to single digits. However, UConn was able to maintain their advantage, thanks in part to a four-point play by Malachi Smith. The Huskies will now face Kansas on Tuesday night, while Illinois will take on No. 17 Tennessee on December 6 in Nashville.
