PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. scored 31 points and grabbed 27 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Huskies to an 82-71 first-round NCAA tournament victory over Furman. Reed shot 12-of-15 from the field and recorded 11 offensive rebounds.

Reed and Bill Walton are the only players in the past 60 years to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds on 80% shooting in an NCAA tournament game. Reed was the first player with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in an NCAA tournament game since Elvin Hayes accomplished the feat twice in 1968 when the field had 23 teams. Bill Walton recorded 33 points and 21 rebounds on 11-of-13 shooting for UCLA in the 1972 national semifinals against Louisville.

"That's as dominant a performance as you've probably seen from a big guy in tournament history. That's what he's capable of. This guy's a total monster, and today he was a real grizzly bear," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.

UConn improved to 30-5 with the victory and advanced to play UCLA in the second round of the East Region. Alex Karaban added 22 points for the Huskies.

Furman shot 48% in the first half while UConn made 1 of 14 three-point attempts. Charles Johnston hit a first-half buzzer-beater to cut UConn's lead to 40-36, threw his arms up in celebration, ran to half court, and chest-bumped a teammate.

The Paladins continued to battle in the second half, with Alex Wilkins hitting a three-pointer to cut UConn's lead to 69-64 with 5:49 remaining. "I thought if we could have gotten a score there, we really could have made the game interesting," Furman coach Bob Richey said.

UConn responded with a 12-4 run down the stretch to secure the win. The Huskies missed 20 of 25 3-point attempts in the game.

"I feel like I let my foot off the gas a little bit in the second half," Reed said.

UConn played without Silas Demary Jr., its first team All-Big East selection, due to an ankle injury and without Jaylin Stewart due to a knee injury that had sidelined him since late February. Tom House scored 21 points for Furman.