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04/04 19:43 CDT UConn reaches 3rd national title game in 4 seasons, beating
Illinois 71-62 behind Mullins and Reed
UConn reaches 3rd national title game in 4 seasons, beating Illinois 71-62
behind Mullins and Reed
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- UConn got another critical 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins
and coach Dan Hurley's Huskies are heading back to the national title game,
beating Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four on Saturday night as they seek their
third championship in four seasons.
Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while the fabulous freshman
Mullins scored 15 for the Huskies (34-5), who rode strong inside play and tough
defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet 16 or later rounds of the
NCAA Tournament.
UConn will face Arizona or Michigan on Monday night as it seeks its seventh
title, all since 1999, and third under Hurley, who would become the only active
coach with more than two.
Mullins, whose buzzer-beating 3-pointer sent the Huskies past Duke and into the
Final Four, hit a catch-and-shoot 3 with 52 seconds left --- his only basket of
the second half --- to give UConn a 66-59 lead.
Freshman Keaton Wagler had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Fighting
Illini (28-9), who reached their first Final Four since losing the championship
game to North Carolina in 2005.
Wagler and Mullins became the first pair of freshmen to top 15 points in a
Final Four game since Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing in 1982.
UConn's Alex Karaban had nine points on 1-of-8 shooting while adding four
rebounds and four assists. He's trying to become the first player since John
Wooden's dominant UCLA teams in the 1960s and 1970s to finish his career as a
three-time champion. He also tied Hurley's brother, Bobby, for second on the
career list with 18 March Madness victories.
The Huskies haven't lost a tournament game played past the opening weekend
since 2009, when they fell in the national semifinals to Michigan State. With
one more victory, they would break a tie with North Carolina and move into
third place alone in national titles, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky
(eight).
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
