UConn Loses First Game Since February to Memphis in OT, 99-97

On Monday Morning in Maui, the UConn Huskies lost their first game in 275 days in a 99-97 OT thriller against the Memphis Tigers. Falling to 4-1, the Huskies' opening game in the 2024 Maui Invitational was truly a rare November thriller.

A poor start from UConn soon devolved into one of their uglier performances this season. However, the Huskies mounted their comeback down twelve with three minutes in regulation behind a career performance from Tarris Reed Jr. Coming off the bench, the Michigan transfer recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. Jaylin Stewart also scored a career high 16 points.

With 14.2 left in regulation, Solo Ball hit a fadeaway three to send the game into overtime, knotted at 82. In overtime, UConn played better. However, with 40 seconds to go in OT, tied at 92, Hurley was assessed a technical foul. Memphis hit their free throws which put them ahead 96-92. UConn had multiple subsequent attempts to score, but were unable to close the gap.

After the game, Dan Hurley spoke to the media regarding his tech in OT.

“For that [over the back] call to be made at that point of the game was a complete joke, all right? And then for me, I don't know what happened. I might have lost my balance by the absurdity of the call or maybe I tripped. But if I made that call at that moment I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back, if I made that call. I would have ignored that.”

Hurley's technical foul was not the only one of the game, as trainer James Doran was given a tech earlier. Hurley called him "the nicest guy," and explained that Doran might have said something under his breath, but felt the referees took it to another level by giving the technical foul. Hurley added that he had a lot of "issues" with the situation.

Alex Karaban, who had 19 points and shot 4-8 from three, took accountability postgame.

"It's on my shoulders completely, 100% on my shoulders. How the team responds, how the team acts, how we watch film, how we do everything in general– it's all on me and I gotta continue to do a better job of that. I'm gonna address the team... we've got to wake up."

There will be a lot of re-evaluating after this loss for the number 2 team in the country. What makes these Multiple-Team Events so special is how intense they can be, and how they can simulate the feel of March. For UConn, this MTE snapped their nation leading 17-game win streak. UConn looks to bounce back against Colorado on Tuesday.