The UConn Huskies emerged victorious after a nail-biting game against the BYU Cougars. This matchup, without a doubt, was one of the most explosive battles in the 2025-26 NCAA season so far. And while Tarris Reed Jr. powered the Huskies with a dominant 21-point, 8-rebound, 2-block performance, head coach Dan Hurley’s postgame focus quickly shifted to the opposing star who nearly stole the night.

During the post-game interview, Hurley couldn’t help but turn his attention to BYU’s freshman phenom, AJ Dybantsa. “That’s as high a level of shotmaking as you’re going to see in college basketball. He had the whole bag going tonight,” Hurley said, and the numbers backed every word. Dybantsa erupted for 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.

But in the second half of the game, the nation’s top recruit looked every bit like the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft he is, attacking mismatches and refusing to let BYU fade. Yet despite his amazing performance, it was Reed Jr. who delivered the knockout punch, refusing to let his team fold under the pressure.

UConn built its early cushion behind red-hot shooting, knocking down 57% from the field and nearly 44% from deep. Silas Demary Jr. was another steadying force throughout, pouring in 21 points while adding seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals, including a crucial swipe in the final 30 seconds that helped seal the win. Alex Karaban matched him with 21 of his own on an ultra-efficient 8-of-11 night, drilling four triples just miles from his hometown crowd. Jayden Ross chipped in timely offense off the bench, and UConn’s ball movement once again separated them, finishing with 21 assists to BYU’s seven.

In the end, the Cougars recorded their first loss of the season, while the Huskies remain untouched. Still, they lost by a very thin margin, and as the season continues, fans will be keeping their eyes on Dan Hurley to see if he’ll be able to continue the Huskies’ no-loss run or not.

What’s next for Dan Hurley-led Huskies?

The Huskies are on a back-to-back victory run. Even after their matchup with a top-10-ranked team, they are still standing on business. The team has played four matches so far, out of which they have won all four, with an average score difference of 29 points per game.

With the BYU scare now behind them, the Huskies roll straight into a brutal stretch that will immediately test their poise. Up next is a headline home matchup against Arizona on November 19, one of several high-level non-conference battles lined up for Dan Hurley’s squad. And the difficulty only ramps from there, with Illinois, Kansas, Florida, and Texas all looming on the schedule.

But considering their recent win, do you think the Huskies have what it takes to chase down another championship this season? Let us know in the comments.