HARTFORD, Conn. (Interstat) — In a display of overwhelming offensive efficiency and defensive dominance, the Connecticut Huskies cruised to an 89-62 victory over the Columbia Lions in a non-conference men’s basketball game Monday night at a half-filled XL Center.

From the opening tip, the Huskies established control, building a commanding 50-27 lead by halftime and never looking back. The victory improved Connecticut’s record to 3-0 on the young season, while Columbia evened its mark at 1-1.

The game was defined by a stark contrast in execution. Connecticut’s offense operated with precision, scoring 89 points on just 67 possessions for a blistering offensive rating of 133.3. Columbia, by comparison, managed only 62 points on 72 possessions, an offensive rating of 86.7.

The Huskies’ offensive firepower was on full display as they shot 56.6 percent from the floor, connecting on 30 of 53 attempts. They were equally potent from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 23 three-pointers. The Lions struggled to find their shooting touch, finishing 21 of 56 from the field, a 37.5 percent clip, and just 5 of 21 from three-point range.

Connecticut’s defense was equally impactful, forcing 13 Columbia turnovers while committing only six themselves. The Huskies converted those takeaways into 10 points, while the Lions managed just two points off turnovers. Connecticut also dominated the interior, outscoring Columbia 40-24 in the paint and swatting away seven shots compared to two for the Lions.

A balanced scoring attack led the Huskies, with three players reaching the 20-point threshold. Solo Ball, a guard from Leesburg, Virginia, led all scorers with 23 points in 28 minutes of action. Forward Alex Karaban of Southborough, Massachusetts, added 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, while center Tarris Reed of St. Louis, Missouri, was a force inside with 19 points and eight rebounds in just 24 minutes.

Guard Silas Demary of Raleigh, North Carolina, orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out nine assists to go with five points and six rebounds. Jayden Ross contributed 10 points off the bench for the Huskies.

Columbia was led by Miles Franklin of Potomac, Maryland, who came off the bench to score 10 points. Starters Blair Thompson and Connor Igoe also each tallied 10 points for the Lions.

The game was effectively decided in the first half. After a brief 3-2 lead for Columbia following an early three-pointer from Blair Thompson, Connecticut unleashed a devastating 20-2 run over a five-minute span. The run was fueled by stifling defense and efficient scoring, including three-pointers from Karaban and Jayden Ross, and capped by a transition dunk from Eric Reibe that forced a Columbia timeout with the Huskies leading 22-5.

Connecticut continued to pour it on, extending the lead to as many as 25 points in the first half before taking the 23-point advantage into the break. The Huskies shot a scorching 64 percent from the field in the opening period.

The second half saw Connecticut maintain its comfortable margin, with the lead never dipping below 20 points as both teams utilized their benches extensively down the stretch.

The announced attendance at the XL Center was 10,244.

Columbia will look to rebound when it returns home to face Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday. Connecticut, continuing a season-opening homestand, will face its first major test of the season when it hosts Arizona next Wednesday.