NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by rugged defense and offensive frustration, Connecticut leaned on its size and composure to survive a ferocious second-half rally from Seton Hall and escape the Prudential Center with a 69-64 victory in a Big East men’s basketball clash on Tuesday night.

The Huskies, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, saw their commanding 35-22 halftime advantage nearly evaporate completely after the break. The Pirates, energized by a home crowd of 9,699, opened the second half on a 22-9 run to tie the game at 44 with just over 11 minutes remaining. The comeback was fueled by a stifling defensive effort that forced Connecticut into rushed shots and uncharacteristic mistakes, turning what had been a comfortable lead into a tense, possession-by-possession battle.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With Connecticut clinging to a 65-64 lead after Seton Hall’s Mike Williams hit a deep 3-pointer with 48 seconds left, the Huskies’ Silas Demary Jr. was fouled and sent to the line. The freshman guard calmly sank both free throws to push the lead to three. On the ensuing possession, Seton Hall’s Trey Parker secured an offensive rebound but missed a putback layup. Connecticut’s Tarris Reed grabbed the defensive board and was immediately fouled.

Reed, a 6-foot-10 center from St. Louis, Missouri, who dominated the interior with 21 points, split the pair, leaving the door slightly ajar at 68-64 with 11 seconds left. Seton Hall called a timeout to advance the ball, but Williams’ potential game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked by Connecticut’s Braylon Mullins. Demary secured the loose ball, was fouled, and iced the game with another pair of free throws, providing the final margin.

The contest was a stark study in halves. Connecticut built its early lead by exploiting its advantage inside with Reed and by capitalizing on Seton Hall’s ice-cold shooting. The Pirates managed just 22 first-half points, shooting a dismal 1 for 16 from 3-point range for the entire game. Connecticut wasn’t much better from deep, hitting only 3 of 17, but their work in the paint and at the free-throw line, where they attempted 26 shots to Seton Hall’s 25, proved decisive.

Reed’s physical presence was the offensive constant for the Huskies. He was complemented by Alex Karaban, who added 13 points, and Mullins, who scored 11. Demary orchestrated the offense with a game-high seven assists to go with his eight points and clutch free throws.

Seton Hall’s second-half surge was led by guard Mike Williams of Baltimore, who scored 14 of his team-high 16 points after halftime. Adam Clark from Philadelphia chipped in 12 points, and Plainfield, New Jersey, native Najai Hines provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and three blocks.

Despite the loss, Seton Hall’s defense was formidable, blocking nine shots and matching Connecticut with eight steals. Both teams committed 14 turnovers in a sloppy, physical affair. The Huskies’ offensive rating of 105.6 on 65 possessions narrowly bested the Pirates’ 94.3 on 68 trips, underscoring the game’s grind-it-out nature.

With the win, Connecticut improves to 17-1 overall and remains unbeaten in the Big East. Seton Hall, which saw its five-game winning streak snapped, falls to 14-3. The victory extended Connecticut’s winning streak to nine games, though this was arguably their toughest test since a narrow overtime win at Providence on Jan. 7.

The Huskies next travel to face Georgetown on Saturday. Seton Hall looks to rebound at home against Butler on the same day.