No. 25 UConn gets much-needed rebound win over No. 15 Baylor

It may have not been the flashiest win ever, but the 25th-ranked UConn Huskies finally picked up a signature win after a difficult start to the 2024-25 season.

UConn held off No. 15 Baylor (5-3), 76-72, to improve to 6-3. UConn was led by freshman Liam McNeeley (17 points, eight rebounds). Senior Samson Johnson (13 points, four rebounds) was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field while sophomore guard Solo Ball had 11 points.

Despite falling behind 19-8 at the 12:16 mark in the first half, the Huskies battled back to make it a 37-36 Baylor lead at the break.

In a game that featured 44 fouls, UConn shared the ball efficiently with 14 assists on 21 made shots. While Baylor shot 49.1% from the field, they only got to 72 points, which is a step in the right direction for a UConn team that just allowed 80 or more points in two of its three losses in the Maui Invitational.

Freshman Robert Wright III contributed 22 points off the bench for the Bears. Junior guard Langston Love (16 points) and senior Norchad Omier (14 points, seven rebounds) had productive nights as well.

Wednesday night was Baylor's fifth game against an AP-ranked opponent in eight games this season. The Bears dropped their opener, 101-63, to No. 6 Gonzaga (7-1) and lost to No. 11 Tennessee (8-0), 77-62, before suffering their third loss of the season to the Huskies. Baylor defeated No. 16 Arkansas (6-2), 72-67, and No. 22 St. John's (6-2), 99-98.

While Baylor is not scheduled to play another ranked opponent until they face No. 6 Iowa State (5-1) on Jan. 4, their difficult schedule to begin the season should prepare them well for a grueling Big 12 slate later this season.

For UConn, the win was a step in the right direction for head coach Dan Hurley's group. After losing only three times all of last season en route to their second consecutive title, the Huskies struggled mightily in Maui. 

According to the FS1 broadcast, that was UConn's first time losing three days in a row since at least 1950-51. The Huskies three losses were also to unranked opponents, which marked the first time UConn lost three straight to unranked teams since February 2019.

Although UConn's schedule does not get any easier with a visit to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns (6-1) on Sunday and a showdown with No. 7 Gonzaga (7-1) at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 14, Wednesday night was a huge boost for the powerhouse program.