UConn Defeats Gonzaga 77-71 at Madison Square Garden

UConn defeated Gonzaga 77-71 in a hard-fought matchup at Madison Square Garden, marking the Bulldogs' second consecutive loss. Liam McNeeley led the Huskies with 26 points, helping them recover from an early deficit and maintain their lead after Gonzaga tied the game in the second half. Gonzaga's Khalif Battle and Ryan Nembhard contributed significantly with 21 and 16 points, respectively, but missed critical opportunities in the closing minutes. UConn's victory also celebrated coach Dan Hurley's 300th win, as the team improved to 8-3 this season. The Zags, now 7-3, struggled with shooting, particularly in the second half, where they managed only 35.5%. Both teams are set to return to action on Wednesday, with UConn facing Xavier and Gonzaga playing Nicholls State.