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    Tuesday, December 03, 2024

    Karaban goes to hospital with head injury after No. 2 UConn's loss to Dayton in Maui Invitational

    UConn forward Alex Karaban (11) looks to pass around Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks celebrates after an 85-67 win against UConn in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

    Lahaina, Hawaii — UConn forward Alex Karaban was taken to a hospital with a head injury after the No. 2 Huskies' 85-67 loss to Dayton in the seventh-place game of the Maui Invitational on Wednesday night.

    Karaban's head hit the floor after he was fouled with about 2 1/2 minutes left. He stayed in the game but was later placed in the concussion protocol and sent to the hospital for further testing.

    Karaban got clearance to fly home with the rest of the team shortly before takeoff, a team spokesman said Thursday.

    Karaban had made four of his team's eight 3-pointers and scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the first half to lead the Huskies (4-3), who lost all three games they played in the tournament.

    The Flyers (6-2) got 20 points from Enoch Cheeks, 18 from Nate Santos, 16 from Posh Alexander and 15 from Zed Key, who led the team with nine rebounds. Cheeks shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

    A day after he scored a career-best 20 points against Colorado, UConn's Liam McNeeley went scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting against the Flyers.

    Karaban hit a 3-pointer that put UConn ahead 30-27 with 4:34 left before halftime, but Dayton closed out the first half on a 15-4 run to take a 41-34 halftime lead.

    Notes

    UConn: All three of the Huskies' losses on Maui came against unranked teams. They dropped their first two games — against Memphis on Monday and Colorado on Tuesday — by a combined three points.

    Dayton: The Flyers made 27 of 30 free throws and shot better than 47% from behind the arc (8 of 17). They went 25 of 50 from the field overall.

    Key moment

    UConn got within 52-49 on Solo Ball's bucket in transition at the 11:20 mark of the second half, but Dayton found some separation with Alexander's 3-point play that stretched it back to a six-point lead with 10:34 to play.

    Key stat

    Dayton finished plus-16 in rebounding margin, including a 32-17 advantage on the defensive glass.

    Up next

    UConn hosts Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, while Dayton plays host to Western Michigan on Tuesday night.

    From left, Dayton forward Nate Santos, Dayton head coach Anthony Grant, guard Malachi Smith and guard Hamad Mousa (10) celebrate an 85-67 win over UConn in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    From left, Dayton forward Nate Santos, Dayton head coach Anthony Grant, guard Malachi Smith, guard Hamad Mousa and forward Zed Key celebrate an 85-67 win over UConn in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    UConn forward Alex Karaban (11) goes to the basket against Dayton guard Hamad Mousa (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    UConn guard Solo Ball (1) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    Dayton guard Malachi Smith (11) reacts after making a basket against UConnduring the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    UConn head coach Dan Hurley instructs players from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
    UConn forward Alex Karaban, left, wipes his face with his jersey as he and teammates, including forward Jaylin Stewart (3) and forward Isaiah Abraham (4) line up to greet Dayton after losing 85-67 in an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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