University of Connecticut
0-0,0-0Big East
Purdue
0-0,0-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 20 | 33 | 53 |
| UConn | 35 | 41 | 76 |
10/27/2026 10:47:00โฏPM | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD โย The No. 4 UConn men's basketball team closed its exhibition slate with a 76-53 win over Purdue on Tuesday night in the preseason finale at PeoplesBank Arena.ย Colben Landrewย led four Huskies in double-figures and UConn held Purdue under 33 percent from the floor in the win.ย
The win capped a perfect 3-0 preseason for the Huskies, with wins over Syracuse and Michigan State along with tonight's triumph over the Boilermakers. In the three outings the Huskies out-scored their opponents by 17.0 points per game and held them combined to 34.4 percent from the field and 14.1 percent from three.ย
On Tuesday night it wasย Landrew'sย 15 points that led the way, coming on 6-of-10 shooting in only 18 minutes off the bench.ย Jayden Rossย scored 13, including 11 in the first half, whileย Oskar Giltayย added 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in 21 minutes as a reserve.ย Silas Demary Jr.ย was the fourth in double-figures with 10 points to go along with five assists and four steals, whileย Nik Khameniaย narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds. As a team the Huskies held Purdue 20-of-61 (32.8 percent) from the field and to a paltry 2-of-25 (8.0) effort from 3-point range.ย
How it Happened
The Boilermakers opened the aggressor with the game's first four points beforeย Rossย broke the ice with a corner 3-pointer. Moments laterย Rossย hit again from the wing to give UConn its first lead, an early 6-5 advantage it took to the game's first stoppage with 15:26 to play. The first triple was the catalyst of a prolonged run for the Huskies, and aย Landrew-to-Rossalley-oop led to a Purdue timeout with the Huskies up 14-7 and 11:42 to go in the first half.ย
Overall it was a 16-2 run for the Huskies that saw Connecticut take its largest lead and go up 19-7 midway through the first. Later in the stanza a aย Demary Jr.ย steal-and-score andย Na'jai Hinesย hook inside capped an 8-0 run that gave the Huskies a 31-13 lead with 3:28 to go in the first. The Huskies took a 35-20 advantage to the half, holding the Boilermakers to 26.7 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.ย Rossย led all scorers with 11 first half points.ย
A 7-0 run for Purdue cut the lead to 10 early in the second half, but aย Demary Jr.ย three-point play wrapped around a timeout at 15:57 had the UConn lead back to 40-27. At 14:04 aย Landrewย 3-pointer capped an 8-0 run and triggered a Boilermaker timeout with the UConn lead out to 47-28. Five-straight fromย Landrewย helped pushed the lead over 20 for the first time and the Huskies took a 53-31 advantage with his pull-up before a timeout at 11:18. From there all that was left to decide was the final margin, as Connecticut swelled its lead to as many as 30 late in the 23-point win.ย ย
Inside the Numbers
- UConn shot 25-of-58 (43.1 percent) from the field and 6-of-21 (28.6) from range, while holding Purdue to 20-of-61 (32.8) and 2-of-25 (8.0) marksย
- The Huskies finished with a +6 edge on the glass, led byย Khamenia'sย 11 rebounds and six fromย Hines
- UConn turned 15 offensive rebounds into a 17-14 edge in second chance points
- Connecticut out-scored Purdue 17-5 in transition, 29-17 in bench scoring and 38-24 in the paint
- UConn turned a +5 turnover margin into an 18-11 edge in points off miscues
- The Huskies dished out 18 assists on 25 baskets against 11 turnovers
News and Notes
- While Tuesday does not count towards the all-time series, UConn is 2-4 all-time against Purdueย
- Demary Jr.ย andย Khameniaย tied for the team lead with 13.0 ppg in the preseason, followed closely byย Landrewat 12.0 andย Hinesย at 11.3
- Tuesday night was a 15,495 person sellout at PeoplesBank Arena
Up Next
The Huskies officially embark on the 2026-27 campaign with the regular season opener on Monday, Nov. 2 against Gardner-Webb at PeoplesBank Arena.ย
