UConn turned a 14-point, second-half deficit into a 66-59 win over Villanova on Tuesday in what felt like a must-win moment for the Huskies after falling over the weekend to Big East cellar-dwelling Seton Hall. The win, which very much looked in doubt after falling behind 53-39 with under 12 minutes to play, came thanks to a 27-6 run to close the game for the Huskies led by a 16-point, second-half explosion from freshman Liam McNeeley.

UConn coach Dan Hurley – not known to be dramatic in any way, shape or form – said postgame he felt UConn’s season was “hanging in the balance” as it trailed by 14 points at home to the Wildcats. Their response showed fight when they “could have lost by 18, tucked tail and bailed” after things didn’t go their way for much of the game until late, Hurley said.

“This could be galvanizing for us,” he said. “Just the way we showed so much heart. Down 14 with 12 to go. Guys like [Liam] McNeeley, Tarris Reed, [Hassan] Diarra, [Solo] Ball, [Jaylin] Stewart. … They wouldn’t let us lose.”

UConn entered the day a projected 9 seed in Jerry Palm’s latest bracket, bogged down in part by a brutal Quad 3 loss to Seton Hall over the weekend, so a win over the Wildcats gets the Huskies moving back in the right direction. Their resume is dangerously hovering near bubble territory for a team that has won the last two championships, but they are likely to be favored in four of the next five games to close out the regular season.

Then it’s March Madness, where things tend to go well for UConn.

“This team’s got to find a way to finish strong,” Hurley said. “UConn starts playing really well in March. So, can we get on a roll here late, get some of that March magic that we tend to have here?”