AUSTIN (KXAN) — Connecticut built a big lead early behind the return of forward Alex Karaban to down Texas 76-65 Sunday at Moody Center.
Karaban had been in concussion protocol since the Maui Invitational and sat out two games against Maryland Eastern Shore and Baylor. In his first game back he delivered a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 6 of 14 shooting in 38 minutes. Solo Ball hit four 3-pointers and poured in 16 points for the 25th-ranked Huskies while Hassan Diarra dished out 11 assists.
Texas guards Tre Johnson (20) and Julian Larry (1) react after a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UConn in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) tries to move the ball past UConn forward Alex Karaban (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn head coach Dan Hurley talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn forward Liam McNeeley drives against Texas forward Ze'Rik Onyema during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn forward Liam McNeeley (30) is fouled by Texas forward Arthur Kaluma (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) shoots past Texas guard Tre Johnson, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn center Samson Johnson, top, hangs from the rim after scoring against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., center, drives to the basket against Texas forward Kadin Shedrick, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn guard Solo Ball (1) reacts after scoring against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) scores against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) reacts after a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UConn in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn guard Solo Ball (1) drives to the basket against Texas guard Chendall Weaver (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn guard Hassan Diarra (10) drives around Texas guard Julian Larry, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn guard Solo Ball (1) scores against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn guard Hassan Diarra (10) scores past Texas guard Tramon Mark (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn forward Alex Karaban, center, is blocked by Texas forward Arthur Kaluma (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
UConn forward Liam McNeeley (30) shoots over Texas forward Arthur Kaluma (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas forward Arthur Kaluma (6) grabs a rebound against UConn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Longhorns cut UConn's lead to 73-65 late, but that was as close as they would get, ending their winning streak at seven games. Tre Johnson led all scorers with 24 points while Arthur Kaluma scored 20 with nine rebounds, but no other Longhorn had more than six points.
Texas fell behind by 20 in the first half largely due to UConn's swarming defense that forced the Longhorns into tough shots. Texas shot 8-of-26 in the first half and just 1-for-6 from 3-point range with just one assist, but halftime adjustments helped the Longhorns make it closer in the second half and shoot much better. Texas made its first five 3-point attempts of the half, finishing the frame 7-of-11 from long distance, and 54% from the field. They ended the game shooting 42%, 21-for-50, with eight assists. UConn shot 52% with 21 assists on 28 field goals.
"We turned up the intensity in the second half, and if we had that kind of intensity in the first half, it would have been different," Kaluma said.
Johnson said they tried to take advantage of one-on-one matchups in the first half that contributed to the low assist total. Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry said they settled for jumpers too much.
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"That makes a tough half for you," Terry said. "We knew coming out here that we were going to play a very good offensive team. Give them credit, they came out and exploited our bad switches and scored."
The Huskies are the first nonconference team to beat Texas in Moody Center, snapping a 21-game winning streak for the Longhorns.
UConn (7-3) takes on No. 7 Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Texas (7-2) hosts New Mexico State at 7 p.m. Thursday.
