Malachi Smith and Eric Reibe came off the bench to combine for 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting to help No. 2 UConn to a hard-fought 87-81 win over Providence on Tuesday night at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.

On a night when some of the starters struggled, Smith added seven assists and Reibe eight rebounds to give UConn (20-1, 10-0 Big East) the season sweep over conference foe Providence (9-12, 2-8).

The Friars were pesky this season to say the least. On Jan. 7, Providence was up by 11 with less than three minutes to play before UConn prevailed in overtime, 103-98. That night, Alex Karaban scored 23 and freshman Braylon Mullins had a career-high 24 points as the Huskies rallied for the win.

But on Tuesday, Mullins was out after landing in the concussion protocol on Saturday when he took an elbow to the head in an overtime win against Villanova. And Karaban was just 3-of-14 shooting, though he contributed mightily in other ways in his 38 minutes on the court: nine rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals.

Providence was without Jason Edwards (undisclosed), who has not played since Jan. 10. He averages 17.2 points per game.

Still, the Huskies had a hard time shaking the Friars.

Postgame, Hurley credited the play of his centers – Reibe and Tarris Reed Jr. – for keeping the Huskies in the game. Reed, hampered by foul trouble much of the night, was 8-of-9 shooting for 19 points with six rebounds.

And he also credited Kim English, Providence’s coach, for having his Friars ready to play.

“He’s gonna be a star in this business,” Hurley said of English.

The Huskies have one loss on the season – a four-point defeat to No. 1 Arizona – but otherwise dominated a tough nonconference schedule early on. They have won their past four Big East games by a combined 21 points, an average of 5.3 points per game.

“It's tougher for us in the league than it is in nonconference,” Hurley said. “These people know us very well. The coaches, you know, they know how to guard us.”

Also in double figures for the Huskies were Solo Ball, who scored 17 points despite 5-of-8 shooting, and Silas Demary Jr., who scored 15 points and added four rebounds and six assists.

Providence had four players in double figures: Jamier Jones (20 points), Jaylin Sellers (18), Oswin Erhunmwunse (14) and Stefan Vaaks (12).

UConn will go for its 17th consecutive win on Saturday in Big East action against Creighton in Omaha, Neb.

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