Overview
- Solo Ball led UConn with 15 points as Malachi Smith added 14 points and nine assists and Alex Karaban posted 12 points with nine rebounds.
- Illinois’ Kylan Boswell scored 25 points with nine rebounds, but the Illini shot 20.7% from three and never took the lead.
- UConn led by as many as 21 and held Illinois to 31.7% from the field while its reserves produced 31 points.
- A late four-point play by Smith following a disputed shot-clock reset stood after review, drawing criticism from FOX broadcasters.
- Freshman Braylon Mullins debuted for UConn with 10 minutes and two points as Tarris Reed Jr. returned from injury; next up are UConn at Kansas on Tuesday and Illinois vs. No. 17 Tennessee on Dec. 6.