deadspin
In the season opener for both programs on Monday night in Hartford, Conn., No. 4 UConn cruised past Gardner-Webb, 86-46, behind a game-high 20 points from preseason All-Big East selection Braylon Mullins.
Mullins connected on four 3-pointers to pace the Huskies, who shot 51.7% from the field, held a commanding 21-3 edge in fastbreak points, and outrebounded the Runnin' Bulldogs 46-28. Duke transfer Nik Khamenia contributed 14 points and six rebounds, while Na'jai Hines posted a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Freshman Colben Landrew added 11 points off the bench.
Gardner-Webb was led by Jacob Hudson's nine points. Jackson Skipper chipped in eight points and five rebounds, and Seth Brown also scored eight.
UConn wasted little time asserting control, scoring the game's first eight points. Khamenia's turnaround jumper in the paint and Jayden Ross's offensive rebound and put-back sparked the early run, with four starters contributing. The Runnin' Bulldogs did not convert a field goal until Rue Wells scored at the 15:38 mark.
The Huskies then used a 9-2 surge, followed by an 11-point burst, to extend their lead to 21 with 7:16 remaining in the first half. Mullins keyed the run with a transition dunk and a 3-pointer, while Landrew and Junior County capped the stretch with back-to-back triples to make it 29-8.
After Skipper hit Gardner-Webb's first 3-pointer with 5:37 left before halftime, UConn answered with six straight points, including a step-back trey from Khamenia. The Huskies shot 11 of 14 from the free-throw line in the first half, with Silas Demary Jr. sinking a pair before adding a fastbreak layup in the closing minutes. UConn took a 43-24 lead into the break.
Brown opened the second half with a corner 3-pointer for Gardner-Webb, but UConn responded immediately with a 10-0 run. Mullins fed Jayden Ross for an alley-oop dunk and knocked down two 3-pointers before the under-16 timeout.
Oskar Giltay's block led to a Mullins dunk, and Landrew converted a transition layup as the Huskies produced another pair of consecutive baskets to push the advantage to 57-29 with 14:10 left in regulation.
UConn's lead surpassed 30 for the first time with 9:01 to play after a Khamenia 3-pointer and a Ross fastbreak finish. Minutes later, Hines scored on consecutive possessions and Mullins added another 3-pointer from the wing.
David Gaymon's triple highlighted a late 5-0 run for the Runnin' Bulldogs, but UConn reached a 40-point cushion after Egor Amosov's dunk in the final minute.
With the win, the Huskies begin their season 1-0, while Gardner-Webb falls to 0-1.
Originally reported by deadspin.