UConn Defends Belt with Dominant 84-68 Victory Over Ohio State
| Team | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 40 | 28 | 68 |
| UConn Huskies | 42 | 42 | 84 |
UConn successfully defended the College Basketball Belt with an 84-68 victory over Ohio State at PeoplesBank Arena. The Huskies built a slim 42-40 halftime lead before pulling away in the second half, outscoring the Buckeyes 42-28 after the break to secure the win.
Braylon Mullins led all scorers with 22 points for UConn, while Silas Demary Jr. orchestrated the offense with 9 assists. Oskar Giltay controlled the glass with 6 rebounds. Ohio State got 17 points from Jimmie Williams and 4 assists from John Mobley Jr., but couldn't match the Huskies' second-half surge. Amare Bynum pulled down 5 rebounds for the Buckeyes.
With the victory, UConn retains possession of the lineal championship belt that traces back to Kentucky's 1949 NCAA title. The belt stays in Storrs as the Huskies continue their reign as the current holders of college basketball's traveling championship.
Leaders
| Braylon Mullins | Points | 22 |
| Silas Demary Jr. | Assists | 9 |
| Oskar Giltay | Rebounds | 6 |
| Jimmie Williams | Points | 17 |
| John Mobley Jr. | Assists | 4 |
| Amare Bynum | Rebounds | 5 |
Written by Claude from ESPN's box score for this game.