Indianapolis, IN—– The UConn Huskies men’s basketball are heading back to the national championship stage after powering past the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball 71-62 in Saturday night’s Final Four showdown.
Led by head coach Dan Hurley, UConn used a combination of interior dominance and relentless defense to control the game down the stretch. The Huskies are now one win away from their third national title in four seasons and seventh overall.
Tarris Reed Jr. anchored the effort with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman standout Braylon Mullins added 15 points, including a clutch three-pointer with under a minute remaining that effectively sealed the win.
UConn’s postseason dominance continued, as the program extended its winning streak in NCAA Tournament games beyond the Sweet 16 to 19 straight—an impressive run of consistency on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Illinois was led by freshman Keaton Wagler, who delivered 20 points and eight rebounds in a strong performance despite the loss. Tomislav Ivisic contributed 16 points and seven boards, but the Illini struggled from long range, shooting just 6-of-26 from beyond the arc.
The Huskies built a double-digit lead in the second half, but Illinois mounted a late push, trimming a 14-point deficit down to four with just over five minutes to play. UConn responded calmly, tightening up defensively and converting key free throws to pull away in the final moments.
Alex Karaban added nine points along with contributions across the stat sheet, continuing his decorated career as he chases a rare third national championship.
UConn now advances to face either the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball or the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball in Monday night’s title game, with a chance to further cement its place among college basketball’s modern dynasties.
