NEW YORK — Life in the big city for the Indiana men’s basketball team consisted of rebounding woes, foul trouble and a No. 5-ranked Connecticut team that was superior to the Hoosiers in every facet.

Indiana hung within range for a while, but ultimately all of the above problems came home to roost in a 77-57 loss to the Huskies in the opening game of the Empire Classic on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Malik Reneau starred for the Hoosiers with 18 points, but he also fouled out with 7:04 left. Kel’El Ware had 11 points, but was just 2-of-10 from the field, including no two-point baskets at all.

The Hoosiers (3-1) once again struggled from beyond the arc, going 3-of-13 from long range. UConn wasn’t much better, but the Huskies (4-0) more than compensated by outscoring Indiana 32-22 in the paint.

That was partly a product of UConn’s 44-22 rebounding advantage. The Huskies included 15 offensive boards in that tally.

“We have to get tougher. We’re not tough enough, not yet. We put so much pressure on our defense to get stops and then come down and have terrible offensive execution. That’s on me. I take pride in trying to keep everything balanced. I have to do a better job of getting them in a better position to score the ball,” Woodson said.

Ware had eight rebounds. No other Hoosier had more than three.

“We can’t allow Kel’El to be the only person going down there (for rebounds). We have to contest shots and get down there and rebound as a team,” Reneau said.

Part of the rebounding conundrum is Indiana wants to get out in transition, so the boards aren’t crashed, but without the ball, there is no transition anyway.

“We have to secure it first and know we’ve got it before we get out and run,” Indiana guard Trey Galloway said.

One example Woodson cited of toughness was Ware.

“I was a little disappointed. You look at his start (to the season) for us, a lot of his work came in the paint. It was like he didn’t want any part of it (on Sunday). I told him that. He’s 7-feet tall. He’s got to go in there and mix it up,” Woodson said.

UConn’s toughness was not at issue. Guard Tristen Newton scorched the Hoosiers with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He drew 10 fouls, a one-man wrecking crew who discombobulated the Hoosiers’ backcourt.

Foul trouble plagued the Hoosiers from the start, but Xavier Johnson’s troubles compromised Indiana the most. Johnson, who was questionable coming in, picked up two early fouls, and then when Woodson gambled and put Johnson on the floor despite the pair of fouls, Johnson quickly picked up his third.

“I have to trust (Johnson) can get through the half with two fouls. That didn’t help matters,” Woodson said. “X is a big part of what we do. He has to become better at running our team and be smart about not picking up fouls.”

Indiana had little in the way of 3-point offense, something UConn coach Dan Hurley tailored his defense to from the start.

“Paint, paint, paint for them,” said Hurley on the Huskies’ defensive focus. “The 3-point line is not something that is, at this point, a strength for them. Their strength is their fours and fives, and its Johnson and Galloway cutting and slashing.”

It seemed it would only be a matter of time before the Huskies took advantage of the Hoosiers. After shaking off a cold start, UConn led 35-21 with 2:25 left in the half.

Indiana started cold, too, but Reneau was was a force in the lane. Bully-balling his way to the rim, Reneau scored 13 of his 15 first-half points in the final 8:55. Reneau scored five in a 9-2 run that halved the Huskies lead to 37-30 by halftime.

There was hope, but the Huskies dashed it.

UConn took a 14-point lead only for the Hoosiers to cut the deficit back to seven before the first media timeout. The margin hung in that same range for much of the second half. 

It seemed Indiana finally broke the dam when C.J. Gunn stripped Newton with 12:32 remaining and the Hoosiers down seven.

In a flash, not only did the moment disappear, but fortunes turned the other direction. Johnson was stripped from behind by Hassan Diarra. Jaylin Stewart tapped it to Newton, who was still in the shadow of his own basket.

Reneau was left isolated, and Newton drew the foul and converted the bucket. Newton missed the free throw, but the Huskies rebounded the miss, and Newton converted a mid-range jumper on the possession.

Instead of a possession to pull Indiana within four or five, UConn took a 54-43 lead, and the Hoosiers were never the same afterward, especially after Reneau fouled out not much later.

“I thought that was the biggest play of the game,” Woodson said.

Indiana plays Louisville or Texas at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the consolation game of the Empire Classic.