UConn Men’s Basketball Defeats Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden

This season has been an emotional rollercoaster for the two-time defending national champion UConn Men’s Basketball team.
After struggling in Maui, the 18th-ranked Huskies bounced back by winning their next three games, setting the stage for a massive showdown with 8th-ranked Gonzaga inside the world’s most famous arena.
UConn has a history of playing well at Madison Square Garden, and that trend continued against Gonzaga. It wasn’t easy, but the Huskies outlasted a tough Bulldogs team, 77-71.
The Huskies got off to a hot start, jumping out to an early 11-2 lead. The pick-and-roll was working with Samson Johnson, while Liam McNeeley was dialed in from three-point range.
As expected, Gonzaga responded with a counterpunch of their own. Star point guard Ryan Nembhard led the charge for the Bulldogs, making a layup just before the halftime buzzer to cut UConn’s lead to three at the break.
In the second half, Nembhard knocked down a crucial three-pointer, tying the game at 55 with 12 minutes left to play.
With the game freshly tied, the Huskies regrouped during a timeout and went to work. Liam McNeeley completely took over the game from that point on.
He dished out assists, drained three-pointers, and made acrobatic layups, propelling the Huskies to a decisive run that created the separation they needed for the victory.
McNeeley finished as the leading scorer with 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The win improves the Huskies’ record to 8-3 on the season. UConn’s next game is Wednesday against Xavier at the XL Center in Hartford, marking their first Big East matchup of the year.