PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant interior presence, the Connecticut Huskies leaned on a career performance from center Tarris Reed to outlast a persistent Furman squad 82-71 in a men’s NCAA Division I playoff game Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

A crowd of 19,636 saw the Huskies, now 30-5, advance behind a methodical and overwhelming performance from the 6-foot-10, 265-pound Reed. The junior from St. Louis scored a career-high 31 points, relentlessly attacking the paint and controlling the glass to help Connecticut overcome a spirited challenge from the Paladins, who finished their season at 22-13.

The most critical phase of the game came early in the second half, when Connecticut extended a narrow four-point halftime lead into a decisive double-digit advantage. Leading 40-36 at the break, the Huskies opened the second period with a 10-2 run. Alex Karaban, who finished with 22 points, started it with a layup off a Reed assist. After a Furman miss, Solo Ball connected on a 3-pointer. Another Huskies defensive stop led to a Karaban 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 50-38 and forcing a Furman timeout less than three minutes into the half.

That sequence established a cushion that Furman, despite several rallies, could never fully erase. The Paladins, led by 21 points each from Alex Wilkins of Mattapan, Massachusetts, and Tom House of Dayton, Ohio, consistently answered Huskies runs with timely shots but could not string together enough stops to seriously threaten the lead down the stretch.

Reed was the primary reason for that. He scored from the opening tip, converting Connecticut’s first basket on a layup, and was a constant force on both ends. He supplemented his scoring with a game-high 15 rebounds, seven of them offensive, repeatedly generating second-chance opportunities for the Huskies and limiting them for Furman. His physicality inside set the tone and proved to be the mismatch Furman had no consistent answer for, despite solid defensive efforts from posts Cooper Bowser and Charles Johnston.

Furman’s strategy hinged on perimeter shooting and quick ball movement, with Wilkins and House combining for seven 3-pointers. The Paladins stayed within striking distance for much of the first half, trading baskets and even taking a brief 15-14 lead after a Wilkins 3-pointer. But Connecticut’s size and efficiency in the paint, where they outscored Furman decisively, provided a steadying foundation. Braylon Mullins added 12 points and six assists for the Huskies, while Malachi Smith directed the offense with seven assists.

Every time Furman mounted a push in the second half, Connecticut had a response, usually orchestrated by Reed or Karaban. When the Paladins cut the deficit to nine points midway through the period, Reed scored inside and Karaban hit a step-back 3-pointer to push it back to 14. Furman’s final meaningful run brought them within 72-65 with just over four minutes left, but a critical turnover led to a Reed dunk on the other end, and Connecticut closed the game at the free-throw line.

The Huskies’ victory, while expected by pregame projections, was earned through a clear and executed game plan focused on exploiting their size advantage. Reed’s performance marked a significant elevation from his recent outings, where he averaged 13.3 points over his previous three games. For Furman, the loss ended a season that included a strong finish in Southern Conference play, winning three straight to close the regular season before their playoff run concluded against the powerhouse Huskies.

Connecticut will move on in the tournament, its hopes carried by a traditional, inside-out formula that proved too much for a game but ultimately overmatched Furman team.