Washington, DC — Tarris Reed Jr. isn’t known for his work at the free-throw line. But when UConn needed him most, he didn’t miss.
The Huskies’ big man delivered in the clutch, knocking down four critical free throws in the final minute to help second-seeded UConn secure a 67-63 win over Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.
Reed finished with 20 points, while Alex Karaban added 17, including a pair of late free throws that helped fend off the Spartans’ comeback attempt.
“I just trusted the work I’ve put in,” Reed said. “My teammates kept telling me to stay confident and take my time.”
UConn (32-5) found itself in a tight battle late after building — and nearly losing — a sizable early lead. With under a minute to play and the Huskies clinging to a one-point advantage, Reed calmly stepped to the line and made two free throws to extend the margin.
Michigan State responded moments later when Jeremy Fears Jr. converted a pair from the stripe to keep it a one-possession game.
Karaban then delivered a key moment, sinking both ends of a one-and-one with just over 20 seconds remaining to push UConn ahead by three. The Spartans were unable to generate a clean look on the next possession, and a missed three-pointer kept the Huskies in control.
After a late foul gave Michigan State one final chance, Carson Cooper made the first free throw but missed the second. Reed grabbed the rebound and sealed the outcome with two more free throws.
The victory sends UConn to the Elite Eight, where the Huskies will face top-seeded Duke in a highly anticipated regional final.
Michigan State (27-8) showed resilience after a rough start, erasing a 19-point deficit to make it a game down the stretch. However, the Spartans struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 4-for-16 from three-point range.
“Credit our guys for fighting back,” coach Tom Izzo said. “We just didn’t have quite enough at the end.”
Early on, it looked like UConn might cruise. A barrage of three-pointers fueled a 15-1 run that gave the Huskies a commanding 25-6 lead. Michigan State tightened up defensively late in the half to cut the deficit to eight at the break.
The Spartans carried that momentum into the second half, scoring the first seven points to make things interesting. Eventually, they took their first lead of the game on a three-point play by Jaxon Kohler midway through the period.
From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle.
UConn regained control behind timely scoring and defensive stops, including a key sequence where Reed came up with a steal and dunk to energize the crowd. Karaban later drilled a clutch three-pointer that helped the Huskies maintain a slim edge.
“Tarris and Alex were huge for us,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Those are winning plays in big moments.”
Despite multiple chances to complete the comeback, Michigan State couldn’t find the finishing touch. A brief scoring drought late in the second half proved costly, allowing UConn to stay just ahead.
The Huskies also got a small boost with the return of Jaylin Stewart, who saw limited action after missing time with a knee injury and knocked down a three-pointer in his brief stint.
Now, UConn moves on to face Duke with a Final Four berth at stake — a matchup that feels more like a championship-caliber showdown.
And thanks to an unlikely clutch performance at the free-throw line, the Huskies are still in the hunt.
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