Overview
 
Connecticut used a 13-2 burst over the first five minutes of the second half to break open a close game on its way to a 73-63 victory over Villanova Saturday before a sellout crowd of 20,261 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It was the Wildcats' 16^th sellout in the facility and first since the 2019-20 season (Kansas and Seton Hall).
 
The Huskies connected on .549 of their field goal attempts on the day and owned a 37-24 advantage in the rebounding column. The Wildcats, meanwhile, were limited to .407 shooting on the day.
 
"You've got to give them credit," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard. "Mullins hit a really good ATO for a three for them. Offensively the ball just wasn't popping for us. The way we came out in the second half was kind of disappointing. Both times we've played here we've had trouble at the start of the second half. St. John's kind of jumped us and UConn did that too.
 
"UConn was physical with us, got into us, and got us on our heels a little bit offensively."
 
Turnovers were an issue for the Wildcats at the start of the second half.
 
"It was very deflating," Willard said. "Give them credit. They're an older team. They kind of impose their will on you at times. When we played up there, we did a really good job of taking care of the ball. I thought the live ball turnovers hurt us."
 
Fast and Furious to Start
 
With a raucous white out crowd into it from the opening tip, the action in the opening minutes was frantic. Tyler Perkins scored Villanova's first eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, but the Huskies were just as sharp, converting 7-of-10 to grab a 15-14 at the first official timeout of the day.
 
UConn asserted itself defensively with a series of stops midway through the period that allowed it to craft a 23-18 advantage with 10:21 to play in the half. The Huskies were 10-of-15 from the field at that point (.667).
 
"The atmosphere was great," Willard said. "I thought we had some chances early in the game to take advantage of the crowd's energy, but we missed some open shots."
 
Five consecutive points from Acaden Lewis tied the game at 23 before Alex Karaban put UConn back on top with 7:56 to play in the first half with a drive to the basket for two points.
 
Hodge Helps
 
Villanova's other freshman in the starting lineup alongside Lewis, Matt Hodge, gave the 'Cats a nice lift midway through the period. He scored on a drive, free throw and offensive rebound to push VU back in front, 30-27. There was 4:29 to play in the first half.
 
A Braylon Mullins 3-pointer coming out of a timeout tied it at 30. That was part of a 7-0 burst that helped give the Huskies a 34-32 edge at the half.
 
The final 10 minutes of the period looked very different than the opening 10 minutes. The two teams combined for 41 points in those first 10 minutes but only 25 over the final 10 minutes of the half.
 
The Huskies' defense limited Villanova to 1-of-10 shooting from the floor in the last four minutes of the half. Connecticut connected on 15-of-26 field goal attempts (.577) but the Wildcats did force eight turnovers. At the other end Nova was 13-of-34 from the floor (.382).
 
UConn also enjoyed a 19-13 edge on the glass.
 
Perkins (12 points) and Lewis (nine points) tallied 21 of the Wildcats' 32 points.
 
Second Act
 
The UConn defense held the Wildcats without a field goal for the first 5:25 of the period, allowing it to extend its advantage to 47-34. A designed play out of a timeout led to a Malachi Palmer drive for an uncontested layup that ended the drought. On the next possession, another halfcourt set led to a Palmer dish to Braden Pierce for a slam dunk.
 
However, the Huskies responded with another burst, and it was soon a 56-41 margin.
 
Perkins finished with 15 points to lead Nova while Hodge added 13 points.
 
What They Said
 
Perkins: "We just didn't come out with enough urgency, I feel like. They set the tone at the half. They got a big three out of a timeout. We never gave up, we fought back and cut it to eight or nine. Then we give up three offensive rebounds. They just set the tone in the second half."