UConn's defense was suffocating. The Huskies built a commanding 14-point lead and held Furman scoreless for stretches that felt endless—28 consecutive plays without a bucket in the first half alone. When the Paladins tried to mount a second-half push, UConn responded with a devastating 9-2 run (69-64 to 78-66) that put the game away. Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball closed it out from the free-throw line down the stretch, combining for four clutch makes in the final minute. Furman never went away quietly, though. The Paladins battled back with a 9-2 run early to stay competitive and made things interesting late, with Alex Wilkins and Tom House converting free throws to cut the deficit. But it wasn't enough—UConn's suffocating defense and execution in crunch time earned the No. 2 seed a decisive 82-71 First Round victory at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.