The University of Connecticut was crowned in the March Madness Championship Game after crushing San Diego State 76-59 in the final and thus achieving the fifth title in its history.
UConn was the best team in the entire tournament and it showed in the last game at NRG Stadium in Houston, winning both halves. Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo shined again. The point guard had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, while the forward had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist. For his part, Jordan Hawkins, who had the first 2 points of the game, left with 16 points and 4 rebounds. Sanogo was chosen MOP of the tournament.
On the San Diego side, Lamont Butler put the team on his shoulders, but it wasn’t enough. The point guard had 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, while forward Kaeshado Johnson had 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Darrion Trammell was another standout on the losing team with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
NCAA March Madness Championship Game: University of Connecticut vs. San Diego State
When:
Monday, April 3 at 09:20 PM ET at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
Moneyline odds:
UConn -344
San Diego State +265
Where Can I Stream?
NCAA March Madness Live and fuboTV
During the game, the Aztecs were never an opponent, despite having two early 3-pointers that put them up 2-6. After that, the Huskies managed to turn the game around, going 16-10 since their rivals lasted more than 5 minutes without scoring and were never upfront on the scoreboard again.
In the first half, Dan Hurley’s team went to halftime with a 36-24 lead, thanks to their success on the 2-point baskets, since they had 12 of 22, unlike San Diego, which only had 5 of 17.
In the second half, the differential was the free throws. Connecticut scored 21 points (of a possible 23) this way, so it was more points from free throws than from 2-point or 3-point baskets.
San Diego pushed and almost achieved its comeback by placing itself within 5 points (60-55) with a little more than 5 minutes to play, but then the Huskies appeared to nullify them defensively for 3 minutes, and offensively achieve 9 points with Hawkins (3), Newton (4) and Sanogo (2) to increase the advantage and reassure the team. Then it was just waiting for time to pass and they won the title.
The Huskies won all 6 games in this final round, being vastly superior in all of them. Now with 5 titles they reach the line of Duke and Indiana, being only below UCLA (11), Kentucky (8), and North Carolina (6). Dan Hurley won his first title.
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This is the second time a fourth-seeded team has won every game after Arizona did so in 1997. In addition to the Aztecs, they beat the Iona Gaels (87-63), St Mary’s Gaels (70-55), Arkansas Razorbacks (88-65), Gonzaga Bulldogs (82-54), and Miami Hurricanes (72-59).
Also, this was Connecticut’s fifth final, so we can say that whenever they reach this stage, they are the champions, in addition to winning 4 of those titles in Texas (2 of them in Houston). The only time they didn’t win in this state was in 1999 when they were champions in St.Petersburg, Florida.
On the other hand, this was San Diego State’s first participation in a Final Four, so they can leave with their heads held high since they were also very close to doing something historic.
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