UConn Secures National Championship Spot

0:00It's April 5th. This is Global News Today, powered by AI Year World in real-time. I'm Cory with the story. Yukon just punched their ticket to another national championship game, dropping Illinois 71-62 in the final four. Freshman Braylon Mullins sealed it with a clutch three-pointer at 52 seconds left, his only second half-bucket, while Terris Reed Jr. led, with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Huskies, now 34 and five, stretched their street to 19 straight wins in late tournament rounds. Mullins, hailing from nearby Greenfield, Indiana, followed up his buzzer-beater against Duke last week, with his game-winner off an offensive board. Yukon leaned on Gritty inside play and lockdown defense, even as star Alice Cariband struggled from the field. They overcame scoring droughts to hold firm down the stretch. Coach Dan Hurley called his squad fighters in a life-or-death battle, building on back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. For Illinois, Freshman Keaton Wagler dropped 20 points with eight boards, and Tamaslav Avisik

1:05added 16, marking the first Freshman duo with. 15 plus in the final four since Jordan and Ewing in 1982. Their coach Brad Underwood praised the tiny margins that decide these games. Illinois fought back from a 14-point hole, but shot poorly from deep, hitting just six of 26 threes. Yukon dominated the series again, holding them to their lowest outputs this season, building on prior wins, including one, two years back in the elite. Eight. Now the Huskies eye a potential third title in four years against either Arizona or Michigan, chasing history with seven championships since 19. 99. This grinded out path shows their championship DNA is alive and kicking.