Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn with 31 points and 27 rebounds in an 82-71 victory over Furman in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, marking a standout performance as he became the first player since Elvin Hayes in 1968 to achieve 30 points and 25 rebounds in a tournament game. Despite UConn’s struggles from beyond the arc, they held off a determined Furman team, which nearly pulled off an upset. The Huskies, missing key players due to injuries, will face UCLA in the next round. Furman, known for its underdog spirit, fought valiantly but could not secure the win against the second-seeded Huskies.
