The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament after a dramatic 73-72 victory over the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Huskies, trailing for most of the game, staged a furious comeback in the final minutes, capped by a game-winning 3-pointer from freshman guard Braylon Mullins with 0.3 seconds remaining.
Duke led by as many as 19 points in the first half and held an 11-point advantage with 7:59 left in the second half. Connecticut, however, outscored the Blue Devils 22-10 in the final stretch, including a critical defensive stop and Mullins' clutch shot. The Huskies will now face Illinois in the Final Four, while Duke's season ends in disappointment for the second consecutive year after another late-game collapse.
The decisive play occurred with 10 seconds left and Duke leading 72-70. After a free throw and a steal by Tarris Reed Jr., the Huskies forced a turnover on an errant pass by Cayden Boozer. Mullins then received the ball near half-court and drained the game-winning three-pointer, leaving Duke with no time to respond.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer faced criticism for not having his team hold the ball to run out the clock, a strategy that would have forced UConn to foul. Instead, the Blue Devils attempted a risky pass that was intercepted. Scheyer's sideline reaction to the loss went viral, as did comments from Duke's radio broadcast demanding a technical foul on UConn's Malachi Smith, who was legally on the court.
UConn's victory was powered by Tarris Reed Jr., who scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Cameron Boozer led Duke with 27 points. The Huskies have now reached the Final Four in three of the last four seasons, including back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024. Duke, meanwhile, becomes the first No. 1 seed to lose after leading by 15 or more points at halftime in NCAA Tournament history.
The game drew attention from notable figures, including actor Bill Murray, whose son Luke Murray is an assistant coach for UConn. Murray was seen celebrating wildly in the stands during the Huskies' comeback. Former coach Rick Pitino also reacted to the game, praising UConn's second-half performance while criticizing a no-call on an offensive foul earlier in the contest.
Duke's loss has sparked discussions about the team's late-game execution and coaching decisions. Cayden Boozer, who turned the ball over on the final play, expressed regret, saying he felt he had let his twin brother Cameron Boozer down. The Blue Devils will now reflect on another season ending in heartbreak, while UConn prepares for another deep tournament run.