Solo Ball scored 20 points as sixth-ranked UConn stayed atop the Big East by holding on for a 79-75 victory over Georgetown Saturday night in Storrs, Conn.
The Huskies (24-2, 14-1 Big East) won their second straight game following an 81-72 loss to then-No. 22 St. John’s on Feb. 6 to remain a half-game ahead of the Red Storm, who earned a 10-point win in Providence earlier in the day.
Ball scored 16 in the first half after tallying 24 Wednesday at Butler. The junior guard made 7 of 17 shots and hit five of UConn’s 11 3s on 15 attempts.
Alex Karaban added 13 of his 18 points in the second half, when the Huskies fended off multiple comeback attempts by the Hoyas. Karaban earned his 116th win at UConn, becoming the all-time winningest player in school history.
Silas DeMary Jr. totaled 15 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to nearly finish with his second triple-double of the season. Braylon Mullins and Eric Reibe contributed 10 apiece as the Huskies survived Tarris Reed Jr. being in foul trouble in the second half.
The Huskies shot 47.2% and won despite shooting 4-of-17 from three in the second half.
KJ Lewis led all scorers with 24 points, including a 4-point play with 24 seconds left to get the Hoyas (13-12, 5-9) within 77-74. Vince Iwuchukwu added 16 and Kayvaun Mulready contributed 15, but Georgetown lost its 12th straight game to UConn.
The Hoyas shot 43.6% and made 12 of 28 3s, including 7 of 13 in the final 20 minutes.
Georgetown forged a 25-25 tie on two free throws by Iwuchukwu with 7:07 left in the first half, but Ball hit two 3-pointers, a layup and a dunk as the Huskies held a 41-33 advantage at halftime.
Karaban and Ball hit 3s for a 58-46 lead with 10:42 left before the Huskies struggled to finish the game from there.
The Hoyas led 72-68 following a contested three by Lewis with 2:34 to go. After a timeout and a pair of missed threes by teammates, DeMary hit two free throws with 1:56 left to extend the lead to six.
Following the 4-point play, Lewis stole Karaban’s inbounds pass with 14 seconds left and Mulready split two free throws with 11 seconds left to make it 77-75.
Karaban clinched the win with two free throws with 10 seconds left followed by a missed 3-pointer by Mulready.
