HARTFORD, Conn. (Interstat) — The ranked Connecticut Huskies delivered a commanding performance Friday night, overwhelming the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks 110-47 in a non-conference men’s basketball game before a crowd of 15,495 at the XL Center.

The Huskies, the three-time defending national champions, improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the River Hawks evened their record at 1-1.

Connecticut’s dominance was established immediately and decisively. The Huskies erupted for a 64-point first half, fueled by a 25-2 run that turned a narrow 4-2 lead into an insurmountable advantage. The River Hawks struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Connecticut’s relentless defense, heading into the locker room at the half with just 17 points.

The second half offered no respite for the visitors, as Connecticut continued its efficient offensive display, outscoring Massachusetts-Lowell 46-30 to cruise to the 63-point victory.

The Huskies’ attack was a model of balance and depth, with eight players scoring at least eight points. Tarris Reed Jr., a 6-foot-10 forward from St. Louis, Mo., led all scorers with 20 points, adding four blocked shots in just 17 minutes of action. Guard Silas Demary Jr. of Raleigh, N.C., orchestrated the offense with 16 points and seven assists.

They were two of six Huskies to score in double figures. Solo Ball (Leesburg, Va.) scored 14, while Malachi Smith (Bronx, N.Y.) and Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.) each added 13. Jaylin Stewart (Seattle, Wash.) contributed 10 points and six assists. The Huskies also got significant contributions from their bench, with Eric Reibe, a 7-foot-1 center from Hannover, Germany, scoring 11 points and Jayden Ross (Bristow, Va.) adding eight.

Massachusetts-Lowell was led by Jared Frey of Columbus, Ohio, who scored 12 points. Xavier Spencer of Calgary, Canada, was the only other River Hawk in double figures, finishing with 11 points.

The game was the second of a season-opening homestand for Connecticut, which previously defeated New Haven on Monday. The Huskies are scheduled to host Columbia on Monday. Massachusetts-Lowell, which opened its season with a win over Rivier, will look to rebound when it hosts New Haven in its next contest on Monday.