No. 4 UConn beats Xavier 90-67 behind Mullins and Karaban
AP
Dec 31, 2025
CINCINNATI (AP) Freshman guard Braylon Mullins made a career-high five 3-pointers and matched his season best with 17 points as No. 4 UConn beat Xavier Musketeers 90-67 on Wednesday.
It was Mullins' eighth appearance and fourth straight start after missing the first six games with an ankle injury.
Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Solo Ball scored 17 and Tarris Reed Jr. added 10 points and eight boards. Mullins finished with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
UConn (13-1) improved to 3-0 in Big East play after rolling through a challenging nonconference schedule, losing only to top-ranked Arizona.
Malik Messina-Moore paced Xavier (9-5, 1-2) with 16 points and Roddie Anderson III added 15 off the bench for the Musketeers, who went 4 of 18 (22%) from 3-point range and got outrebounded 42-26.
Filip Borovicanin had 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals.
The Huskies started fast, opening 4 of 6 from behind the arc. Mullins' second 3-pointer gave them a 19-6 lead. UConn finished 13 for 28 on 3s (46%) and shot 53% from the field overall.
Mullins' previous high for 3s was three in a win over No. 17 Kansas on Dec. 2, during which the five-star guard scored 17 points.
Xavier averaged fewer than 10 turnovers through 13 games but committed seven in the first half, contributing to UConn's quick start. The Musketeers finished with 11 turnovers.
Xavier came in averaging 10 made 3-pointers, but missed its first 10 attempts. Borovicanin ended the drought 39 seconds into the second half.
UConn led by 25 in the first half before Xavier fought back to make it 43-28 at halftime. Karaban scored 13 before the break.
The Musketeers got within 13 early in the second half but couldn't mount a comeback against a UConn squad that ranks sixth nationally allowing 61.1 points per game.
UConn leads the all-time series 8-5. The Huskies avenged a 76-72 loss at Xavier last season.
UConn hosts Marquette on Sunday.
Xavier visits DePaul on Saturday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
UCONN
Huskies
43
XAV
Musketeers
28
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Musketeers gains possession)
19:39
Tre Carroll misses two point jump shot
19:37
Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
19:10
Jovan Milicevic blocks Tarris Reed Jr.'s two point layup
19:09
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
19:09
Huskies turnover (5-second violation)
18:57
Tre Carroll misses two point jump shot
18:55
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
18:39
+3
Silas Demary Jr. makes three point jump shot (Alex Karaban assists)
3-0
18:21
Malik Messina-Moore misses two point layup
18:19
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
18:16
Jovan Milicevic blocks Silas Demary Jr.'s two point layup
18:14
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
18:08
+2
Tre Carroll makes two point dunk (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
3-2
17:52
+3
Braylon Mullins makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
6-2
17:30
Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot
17:28
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
17:07
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Braylon Mullins assists)
8-2
17:07
All Wright shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
17:07
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 1
9-2
16:56
Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Malik Messina-Moore draws the foul)
16:56
+1
Malik Messina-Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-3
16:56
+1
Malik Messina-Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2
9-4
16:32
+3
Solo Ball makes three point jump shot (Alex Karaban assists)
12-4
16:19
Jovan Milicevic misses two point jump shot
16:17
Braylon Mullins defensive rebound
16:13
Braylon Mullins misses three point jump shot
16:11
Musketeers defensive rebound
15:47
Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot
15:45
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
15:32
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
15:31
Jovan Milicevic defensive rebound
15:31
Tarris Reed Jr. personal foul
15:31
TV timeout
15:29
Tre Carroll turnover (bad pass) (Alex Karaban steals)
15:25
Alex Karaban misses two point layup
15:23
Tre Carroll defensive rebound
15:19
Tre Carroll turnover (lost ball) (Braylon Mullins steals)
15:12
+2
Solo Ball makes two point dunk (Braylon Mullins assists)
14-4
14:49
Tre Carroll misses two point jump shot
14:47
Solo Ball defensive rebound
14:46
Isaiah Walker personal foul
14:29
Pape N'Diaye blocks Alex Karaban's two point layup
14:27
Pape N'Diaye defensive rebound
14:21
Pape N'Diaye turnover (bad pass) (Alex Karaban steals)
14:19
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point dunk
16-4
14:19
Musketeers 30 second timeout
14:06
Isaiah Walker misses three point jump shot
14:04
Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
13:55
Silas Demary Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Robinson steals)
13:46
+2
Isaiah Walker makes two point jump shot
16-6
13:27
+3
Braylon Mullins makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
19-6
13:01
Filip Borovicanin turnover (bad pass) (Eric Reibe steals)
12:56
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Braylon Mullins assists)
21-6
12:45
Roddie Anderson III misses two point layup
12:43
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
12:39
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
23-6
12:39
Anthony Robinson shooting foul (Alex Karaban draws the foul)
12:39
+1
Alex Karaban makes regular free throw 1 of 1
24-6
12:30
Malik Messina-Moore misses three point jump shot
12:28
Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
12:08
Eric Reibe misses two point jump shot
12:06
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
11:54
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
11:52
Eric Reibe offensive rebound
11:51
Isaiah Walker shooting foul (Eric Reibe draws the foul)
11:51
TV timeout
11:51
Eric Reibe misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:51
+1
Eric Reibe makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-6
11:40
Roddie Anderson III misses three point jump shot
11:38
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
11:11
Pape N'Diaye blocks Malachi Smith's two point jump shot
11:09
Pape N'Diaye defensive rebound
10:51
Eric Reibe personal foul
10:50
Roddie Anderson III turnover (bad pass)
10:30
Braylon Mullins misses three point jump shot
10:28
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
10:25
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point dunk (Jaylin Stewart assists)
27-6
10:25
Pape N'Diaye shooting foul (Tarris Reed Jr. draws the foul)
10:25
+1
Tarris Reed Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
28-6
10:06
Pape N'Diaye misses two point jump shot
10:04
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
9:46
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup (Malachi Smith assists)
30-6
9:25
+2
Pape N'Diaye makes two point layup (Filip Borovicanin assists)
30-8
9:10
Roddie Anderson III personal foul
8:59
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point dunk (Solo Ball assists)
32-8
8:59
Tre Carroll shooting foul (Tarris Reed Jr. draws the foul)
8:59
+1
Tarris Reed Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
33-8
8:46
Malik Messina-Moore misses three point jump shot
8:44
Tre Carroll offensive rebound
8:39
Tre Carroll misses two point layup
8:37
Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound
8:37
Solo Ball personal foul
8:30
Jovan Milicevic turnover (lost ball)
8:18
Alex Karaban turnover (bad pass) (Filip Borovicanin steals)
8:06
+2
Filip Borovicanin makes two point jump shot
33-10
7:45
Tarris Reed Jr. turnover (out of bounds)
7:45
TV timeout
7:36
+2
Malik Messina-Moore makes two point layup (Filip Borovicanin assists)
33-12
7:36
Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Malik Messina-Moore draws the foul)
7:36
Malik Messina-Moore misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:36
Braylon Mullins defensive rebound
7:15
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
7:13
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
7:08
Malik Messina-Moore misses three point jump shot
7:06
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
6:43
Braylon Mullins misses three point jump shot
6:41
Tre Carroll defensive rebound
6:25
+2
Tre Carroll makes two point layup
33-14
6:06
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
6:04
All Wright defensive rebound
5:57
Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot
5:55
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
5:41
Malachi Smith turnover (bad pass) (Jovan Milicevic steals)
5:34
Tre Carroll misses three point jump shot
5:32
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
5:18
Jovan Milicevic personal foul
5:18
Eric Reibe misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:18
Braylon Mullins offensive rebound
5:13
Malachi Smith misses three point jump shot
5:11
Jovan Milicevic defensive rebound
5:08
Jovan Milicevic turnover (bad pass) (Braylon Mullins steals)
5:04
Jovan Milicevic shooting foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
5:04
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 1 of 2
34-14
5:04
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-14
4:45
+2
Filip Borovicanin makes two point layup
35-16
4:45
Eric Reibe shooting foul (Filip Borovicanin draws the foul)
4:45
+1
Filip Borovicanin makes regular free throw 1 of 1
35-17
4:29
+3
Jaylin Stewart makes three point jump shot (Malachi Smith assists)
38-17
4:13
Jaylin Stewart personal foul
4:13
+1
Tre Carroll makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-18
4:13
Tre Carroll misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:13
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
3:58
Eric Reibe turnover (traveling)
3:58
TV timeout
3:47
+2
Tre Carroll makes two point dunk (Filip Borovicanin assists)
38-20
3:21
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
41-20
2:55
Filip Borovicanin misses three point jump shot
2:53
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
2:27
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
2:25
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
2:02
Alex Karaban blocks Tre Carroll's two point layup
2:00
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
1:54
Malachi Smith turnover (lost ball) (Filip Borovicanin steals)
1:49
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (All Wright assists)
41-22
1:38
Huskies 30 second timeout
1:24
+2
Solo Ball makes two point jump shot (Malachi Smith assists)
43-22
1:15
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
43-24
0:55
Alex Karaban turnover (bad pass) (Filip Borovicanin steals)
0:51
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (Tre Carroll assists)
43-26
0:27
Malachi Smith misses three point jump shot
0:25
All Wright defensive rebound
0:04
Roddie Anderson III misses two point jump shot
0:02
All Wright offensive rebound
0:00
+2
All Wright makes two point jump shot
43-28
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
UCONN
Huskies
47
XAV
Musketeers
39
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:41
+3
Braylon Mullins makes three point jump shot
46-28
19:19
+3
Filip Borovicanin makes three point jump shot (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
46-31
18:50
Alex Karaban misses two point jump shot
18:48
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
18:45
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (Malik Messina-Moore assists)
46-33
18:28
+3
Braylon Mullins makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
49-33
18:19
Filip Borovicanin misses two point jump shot
18:17
Huskies defensive rebound
17:59
Silas Demary Jr. turnover (lost ball) (All Wright steals)
17:55
Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Tre Carroll draws the foul)
17:55
Tre Carroll misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:55
+1
Tre Carroll makes regular free throw 2 of 2
49-34
17:51
Filip Borovicanin personal foul (Braylon Mullins draws the foul)
17:31
+2
Solo Ball makes two point layup (Braylon Mullins assists)
51-34
17:27
Malachi Smith personal foul
17:22
Roddie Anderson III misses two point jump shot
17:20
Braylon Mullins defensive rebound
17:11
Braylon Mullins turnover (Tre Carroll steals)
17:09
Braylon Mullins personal foul
16:55
+2
Malik Messina-Moore makes two point layup (Tre Carroll assists)
51-36
16:31
Malik Messina-Moore personal foul
16:13
Malachi Smith misses two point jump shot
16:11
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
16:09
+2
Tarris Reed Jr. makes two point layup
53-36
15:54
+2
Malik Messina-Moore makes two point jump shot (Tre Carroll assists)
53-38
15:30
Braylon Mullins misses three point jump shot
15:28
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
15:21
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (Filip Borovicanin assists)
53-40
15:02
+3
Solo Ball makes three point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
56-40
14:46
Tre Carroll misses two point layup
14:44
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
14:34
Alex Karaban offensive foul
14:34
Alex Karaban turnover (offensive foul)
14:34
TV timeout
14:21
Isaiah Walker turnover (out of bounds)
14:02
+3
Malachi Smith makes three point jump shot (Alex Karaban assists)
59-40
13:54
Braylon Mullins shooting foul (Roddie Anderson III draws the foul)
13:54
+1
Roddie Anderson III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-41
13:54
Roddie Anderson III misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:54
Braylon Mullins defensive rebound
13:30
Jovan Milicevic blocks Tarris Reed Jr.'s two point layup
13:28
Jovan Milicevic defensive rebound
13:23
Isaiah Walker misses three point jump shot
13:21
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
13:09
+2
Malachi Smith makes two point layup
61-41
12:54
Alex Karaban shooting foul (Tre Carroll draws the foul)
12:54
+1
Tre Carroll makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-42
12:54
Tre Carroll misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:54
Braylon Mullins defensive rebound
12:32
+2
Eric Reibe makes two point alley-oop dunk (Solo Ball assists)
63-42
12:24
Solo Ball blocks Roddie Anderson III's two point layup
12:22
Malachi Smith defensive rebound
12:21
+2
Solo Ball makes two point layup
65-42
12:21
Tre Carroll shooting foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
12:21
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 1 of 1
66-42
12:06
+3
Malik Messina-Moore makes three point jump shot (Tre Carroll assists)
66-45
11:41
TV timeout
11:27
Malachi Smith turnover (traveling)
11:21
Filip Borovicanin turnover (bad pass) (Jaylin Stewart steals)
11:15
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
11:13
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
11:07
+2
Jaylin Stewart makes two point jump shot
68-45
10:57
+2
Jovan Milicevic makes two point layup (Filip Borovicanin assists)
68-47
10:27
Jaylin Stewart misses two point jump shot
10:25
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
10:25
Malik Messina-Moore shooting foul (Jaylin Stewart draws the foul)
10:25
+1
Jaylin Stewart makes regular free throw 1 of 2
69-47
10:25
Jaylin Stewart misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:25
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
10:10
Jovan Milicevic misses three point jump shot
10:08
Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
9:46
+2
Braylon Mullins makes two point jump shot (Eric Reibe assists)
71-47
9:31
+3
Malik Messina-Moore makes three point jump shot (Filip Borovicanin assists)
71-50
9:29
Musketeers 30 second timeout
9:29
TV timeout
9:13
+3
Braylon Mullins makes three point jump shot (Eric Reibe assists)
74-50
8:59
Tre Carroll misses two point jump shot
8:57
Eric Reibe defensive rebound
8:42
Braylon Mullins misses three point jump shot
8:40
Roddie Anderson III defensive rebound
8:31
Braylon Mullins shooting foul (Malik Messina-Moore draws the foul)
8:31
+1
Malik Messina-Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2
74-51
8:31
+1
Malik Messina-Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2
74-52
8:18
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
77-52
7:57
+2
Filip Borovicanin makes two point jump shot (All Wright assists)
77-54
7:54
TV timeout
7:37
Pape N'Diaye personal foul
7:21
Silas Demary Jr. misses two point layup
7:19
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
7:10
+3
Pape N'Diaye makes three point jump shot (Roddie Anderson III assists)
77-57
6:46
+2
Eric Reibe makes two point dunk (Alex Karaban assists)
79-57
6:27
Eric Reibe blocks Pape N'Diaye's two point layup
6:25
Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
6:25
Roddie Anderson III personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul)
6:19
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive foul
6:19
Tarris Reed Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
5:59
Filip Borovicanin misses two point jump shot
5:57
Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound
5:52
Solo Ball shooting foul (Tre Carroll draws the foul)
5:52
Tre Carroll misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:52
Tre Carroll misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:52
Solo Ball defensive rebound
5:35
Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point layup
5:33
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
5:26
Alex Karaban misses two point bank jump shot
5:24
Tre Carroll defensive rebound
5:18
Roddie Anderson III misses two point jump shot
5:16
Filip Borovicanin offensive rebound
5:16
+2
Filip Borovicanin makes two point layup
79-59
4:52
Tre Carroll shooting foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul)
4:52
+1
Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
80-59
4:52
Silas Demary Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 (Filip Borovicanin lane violation)
4:52
+1
Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
81-59
4:40
+2
Roddie Anderson III makes two point layup (Jovan Milicevic assists)
81-61
4:24
+3
Alex Karaban makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
84-61
4:02
Malik Messina-Moore misses three point jump shot
4:00
Tarris Reed Jr. defensive rebound
3:40
Silas Demary Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:38
Huskies offensive rebound
3:36
TV timeout
3:33
+2
Jaylin Stewart makes two point layup (Silas Demary Jr. assists)
86-61
3:12
Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Filip Borovicanin draws the foul)
3:12
+1
Filip Borovicanin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
86-62
3:12
Filip Borovicanin misses regular free throw 2 of 2 (Malachi Smith lane violation)
3:12
+1
Filip Borovicanin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
86-63
2:53
Eric Reibe misses two point jump shot
2:51
Filip Borovicanin defensive rebound
2:38
Isaiah Walker misses three point jump shot
2:36
Malachi Smith defensive rebound
2:12
Jaylin Stewart turnover (lost ball) (Filip Borovicanin steals)
1:47
Jaylin Stewart personal foul (Isaiah Walker draws the foul)
1:47
+1
Isaiah Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2
86-64
1:47
+1
Isaiah Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2
86-65
1:17
+2
Jacob Furphy makes two point jump shot
88-65
1:07
Anthony Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Alec Millender steals)
0:58
Malachi Smith misses three point jump shot
0:56
Roddie Anderson III defensive rebound
0:44
Alec Millender personal foul (Roddie Anderson III draws the foul)
0:44
+1
Roddie Anderson III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
88-66
0:44
+1
Roddie Anderson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
88-67
0:21
+2
Uroš Paunovic makes two point jump shot (Alec Millender assists)
