Washington, DC—–UConn delivered one of the most stunning comebacks in NCAA Tournament history Sunday night.
Trailing by as many as 19 points and struggling to find any rhythm from beyond the arc, the second-seeded Huskies stormed back to defeat top overall seed Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight — winning it on a dramatic three-pointer from freshman Braylon Mullins with just 0.4 seconds remaining.
The shot came moments after a costly Duke turnover and gave UConn its first lead since the opening minute of the game.
Down 44-25 late in the first half, the Huskies looked overwhelmed early. Their outside shooting was especially poor, as they opened just 1-for-18 from three-point range. But instead of relying on the perimeter, UConn shifted its approach — attacking inside and leaning on its defense to claw back into the game.
Tarris Reed Jr. led that charge.
The senior center dominated in the paint, finishing with 26 points on efficient shooting while anchoring the defense with multiple blocks and key stops. His physical presence helped swing momentum as UConn slowly chipped away at Duke’s lead.
Guards Silas Demary Jr. and Solomon Ball also played key roles, delivering timely plays as the deficit shrank in the second half.
Still, Duke appeared in control late.
After Alex Karaban knocked down his first three-pointer of the game to pull UConn within one, Cameron Boozer answered with a basket to restore a three-point lead for the Blue Devils with under 30 seconds remaining.
But the final sequence unraveled quickly for Duke.
Holding a narrow 72-70 advantage in the closing seconds, a pass from Cayden Boozer was deflected, landing in Mullins’ hands. The freshman, who had missed all four of his previous three-point attempts, rose up and buried a deep shot that will be remembered as one of the defining moments of this tournament.
The basket capped a remarkable turnaround and sent UConn to the Final Four for the third time in four seasons.
For Duke, the loss was a crushing repeat of recent heartbreak.
One year after surrendering a double-digit lead in the Final Four, the Blue Devils again failed to close out a game they once controlled. They led by 15 at halftime — a margin that No. 1 seeds had never squandered in NCAA Tournament history until now.
UConn’s second-half execution proved decisive. The Huskies capitalized on turnovers, dominated second-chance opportunities, and steadily wore down Duke on both ends of the floor.
Reed’s performance was the centerpiece of the comeback, continuing a dominant tournament run that has seen him produce at an elite level in every round.
But the lasting image belongs to Mullins.
A native of Greenfield, Indiana — just outside Indianapolis, where the Final Four will be held — the freshman is now headed home after delivering a moment that will live on in UConn lore. He finished with 10 points, none bigger than the final three.
With the victory, the Huskies advance to face Illinois in the national semifinals, carrying with them momentum from one of the most improbable wins of the season.
