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Watch: UConn collapses in stunning loss at Seton Hall
Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates at Prudential Center. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Watch: UConn collapses twice in stunning loss at Seton Hall

No one ever thought it would be easy for UConn to three-peat as NCAA Tournament champions. But on Saturday, the Huskies revealed how challenging it will be with two late collapses in a 69-68 overtime loss at Seton Hall.

First, UConn squandered a 57-50 with under a minute left in regulation, allowing the tying three with five seconds left to send the game to overtime.

During the extra session, Seton Hall (7-18, 2-12 in Big East) ended the game on a 6-0 run over the final 48 seconds to stun the Huskies, who entered as a 14.5-point favorite.

UConn turned the ball over three times in the final minute, including two by heralded freshman forward Liam McNeeley.

But sophomore guard Solo Ball had the most critical turnover, losing the ball with under 10 seconds left near UConn's basket, which Seton Hall forward Scotty Middleton turned into the winning layup.

UConn (17-8, 9-5 in Big East) fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 on Feb. 10. After back-to-back national titles, the Huskies set the tone for their frustrating season with an 0-3 showing in November at the Maui Invitational.

UConn is 5-5 in its last 10 games, having also lost to Villanova (15-10, 8-6 in Big East), Xavier (16-10, 8-7 in Big East), No. 24 Creighton (18-7, 11-3 in Big East) and No. 9 St. John's (21-4, 12-2 in Big East).

Seton Hall is by far UConn's worst defeat of the bunch. The Pirates entered Saturday No. 224 in NET rankings, riding a nine-game losing streak.

UConn is running out of time to find its groove ahead of another NCAA Tournament run. With an unseemly loss to Seton Hall, the Huskies appear in no shape to defend their title.  

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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