Alex Karaban's career high leads UConn past UCLA into Sweet 16 showdown against Michigan State
A heavyweight matchup against Tom Izzo and the Spartans awaits.
After a brief absence in 2025, UConn is back in the Sweet 16. No. 2 seed UConn held off a game 7th-seeded UCLA team playing without All Big Ten forward Tyler Bilodeau (knee) for a 73-57 win on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
With the win, UConn advances to the tournament’s second weekend for the third time in four seasons. Its previous two Sweet 16 trips led to national championships before a second-round loss to eventual champion Florida ended UConn’s 3-peat dreams last March. Now it’s back in the Sweet 16, gunning for another national championship.
Alex Karaban’s career high paces Huskies UCLA put up a fight despite playing without its best player and rode a 6-0 run to start the first half to a 39-38 lead. UConn punched back later in the half with a 14-0 run featuring two Alex Karaban 3s to reseize control, 56-44. ALEX KARABAN IS ON ONE 🔥 #MarchMadness @UConnMBB pic.
twitter. com/RgNzoxvixD — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2026 Another 9-0 UConn run thwarted UCLA’s last gasp, and the Huskies mantained control down the stretch. Alex Karaban, who starred on both of those national title teams, finished with a career-high 27 points alongside 5 rebounds.