UConn Advances To Final Four Off Duke Turnover & 35-Foot Game-Winning Three By Braylon Mullins

UConn men’s basketball upset Duke to advance to the Final Four.

UConn won the game 73-72. Duke had a chance to seal the game. However, Cayden Boozer turned the ball over, giving UConn possession with just 0.6 seconds left. Braylon Mullins hit a 35-foot game-winning three-point shot. 

Senior center Tarris Reed Jr. led the way for UConn with 26 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Silas Demary Jr. made some key contributions as well, including two free throws that got UConn within two points and also forced the turnover on Boozer. 

The twin brothers, Cameron and Cayden Boozer, kept Duke in the game. Cameron, who’s a top draft prospect, scored 27 points and had eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Cayden had 15 points and six assists. Although Cayden’s turnover ended up costing Duke the game, his contributions before the turnover were a big reason Duke was leading in the first place. 

Cameron is expected to leave for the NBA draft. Along with him, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans and sophomore center Patrick Ngongba are also expected to declare for the draft. Cayden will likely be the best player that Duke will retain next season. 

Although Cayden’s turnover gave UConn a chance to get the game-winning shot, he’s not the only one to blame for the loss.

Duke had a 15-point lead heading into halftime. Before this game, no No. 1 seed had ever blown a 15-point lead in an Elite Eight game. At halftime, the script almost completely flipped. UConn scored 44 points in the second half, the same amount that Duke scored in the first half. Meanwhile, Duke scored 28 points in the second half, just one fewer than what UConn scored in the first half. 

UConn will play Illinois in the Final Four game on April 4.