UConn Beats Illinois in Final Four to Advance to Championship Game
- The UConn Huskies defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 71-62 on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, advancing to the NCAA Men's Basketball national championship game.
- 2-seeded Huskies relied on their tournament experience to secure the win, despite a second half in which they shot 28.6% from the field.
- Led the Huskies with 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the tournament.
The UConn Huskies defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 71-62 on April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, advancing to the NCAA Men’s Basketball national championship game. This victory marks the third time in the last four seasons that UConn has reached the title game.
The No. 2-seeded Huskies relied on their tournament experience to secure the win, despite a second half in which they shot 28.6% from the field. The result represents the 13th overall Final Four win for the program and the 18th March Madness victory under head coach Dan Hurley.
Key Performances and Game Turning Points
Tarris Reed Jr. Led the Huskies with 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the tournament. Guard Braylon Mullins contributed 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, while Silas Demary Jr. Added 5 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Illinois, the No. 3 seed, was led by guard Keaton Wagler, who scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Tomislav Ivicic also reached double figures for the Fighting Illini with 16 points.
The game remained competitive late into the second half as Illinois attempted to erase a 14-point deficit. With 52 seconds remaining and UConn leading 62-59, Braylon Mullins hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 66-59. Eight seconds later, Keaton Wagler responded with a three-pointer of his own to bring the score to 66-62 with 43 seconds left.
UConn maintained their lead to close out the game, with free throws from Silas Demary Jr. And a missed three-pointer by Wagler sealing the result.
Game Dynamics and Statistics
While UConn struggled with field goal accuracy in the second half, Illinois struggled with their own shooting throughout the night. The Fighting Illini stayed competitive largely due to UConn’s foul trouble, converting 18-of-23 attempts from the free-throw line.
The victory was viewed as a continuation of the confidence built by the Huskies following a previous win over Duke in the Elite Eight, which featured a buzzer-beating shot by Mullins.
Jayden Ross, UConn forward
Me and Jaylin Stewart were on the bench and he looked at me and said, ‘I’m calling a Braylon Mullins 3-pointer right here.’
Path to the Championship
UConn is now positioned to attempt a feat not seen in more than 50 years: winning a national title for the third time in a four-year span. The Huskies will play for the championship on Monday, April 7, 2026.
Their opponent will be the winner of the second national semifinal featuring the No. 1 seeds, Arizona and Michigan.
The program’s recent success under Dan Hurley has been characterized by different team identities. The 2022-23 championship team was noted for a strong finish after a mid-season slump, while the 2023-24 squad, led by All-American Tristen Newton, defeated every tournament opponent by 14 points or more.