AUSTIN, Texas – –

Alex Karaban returned to the UConn lineup after missing two games due to a concussion, had 21 points and 11 rebounds and led the No. 25 Huskies past Texas 76-65 on Sunday.

Solo Ball scored 16 points and made four 3s as UConn (7-3) won its first true road game of the season. Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. each scored 12 goals and Hassan Diarra had 11 assists.

Freshman Tre Johnson led Texas (7-2) with 24 points. Arthur Kaluma had 20 points and nine rebounds.

UConn led by 20 early in the second half and by 15 with under four minutes left. Kaluma hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to eight with 1:15 left, but Texas did not score again.

Takeaways

UConn: The Huskies, with their four new starters, struggled at times to protect their opponents on the edge. After shooting 31% in the first half, Texas improved to 54.2% in the second, but UConn always had an answer when the Longhorns showed some life.

Texas: Before UConn’s arrival gave Texas an opportunity to compete against better competition on national television. But the Longhorns missed eight of their first nine shots and never made a serious run.

Key moment

Johnson scored eight points in less than five minutes, leaving Texas trailing by 10 with nine minutes left. But Ball responded with a 3-pointer for UConn, restoring order.

Key statistics

UConn had 21 assists on 28 baskets, compared to eight assists for Texas. Several of those assists gave the Huskies a 38-18 lead.

Next

UConn faces No. 7 Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and Texas hosts New Mexico State on Thursday.

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