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Connecticut routs San Diego State to win its fifth NCAA males’s basketball title after dominating event | CNN



CNN
 — 

The University of Connecticut received its fifth men’s basketball national title with a 76-59 victory over San Diego State University on Monday evening at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Senior guard Tristen Newton led UConn (31-8) with 19 factors and 10 rebounds whereas Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo, a junior ahead, chipped in with 17 factors and 10 rebounds.

“We weren’t ranked going into the 12 months so we had the chip on our shoulder,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley advised recreation broadcaster CBS. “We knew the extent that we may play at, even by these darkish instances,” he added, referencing the crew’s six losses in eight games in the course of the common season.

He mentioned going into the event his group had confidence garnered in the course of the season.

“And when you may have the kind of leaders like Andre Jackson (game-high six assists Monday) and Adama Sanogo, they saved this crew collectively, received us again on monitor and we knew we had been the very best crew within the event entering into and we simply needed to play to our stage,” he added.

San Diego State (32-7) was topped by Keshad Johnson who had 14 factors.

UConn trailed very early however San Diego State was undone by an 11-minute, eight-second stretch through which they scored simply 5 free throws and missed 12 consecutive pictures from the sector. The Huskies went from down 10-6 to up 36-24 at halftime.

The Aztecs made a run halfway by the second half and narrowed the deficit to 5 at 60-55 with 5:19 to play however the Huskies scored the following 9 to take a cushty lead into the ultimate two minutes.

“We battled. Battled again to 5 within the second half, however gave them an excessive amount of separation,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher mentioned. “We needed to be at our greatest. We weren’t at our greatest. Quite a bit needed to do with UConn.”

Senior guard Adam Seiko advised reporters they gave themselves an opportunity with their second half comeback however UConn “simply made somewhat bit extra performs” on the finish.

“They have a number of weapons. They had been fairly good,” mentioned Matt Bradley, additionally a senior guard. “To beat them, we needed to make pictures. I shot poorly. And you needed to have a very good recreation to beat these dudes on the offensive finish.”

UConn received every of its six event video games by at the very least 10 factors, with its closest recreation being a 13-point win over the University of Miami within the nationwide semifinals.

“I simply need to thank my teammates, my coaches who believed in me. If it weren’t for them I’d not be right here proper now,” Sanogo advised CBS.

Jordan Hawkins, who scored 16 factors for UConn, talked about successful the crown at some point after his cousin, Angel Reese of Louisiana State University, won the women’s title.

“I imply it’s completely superb that we each get this chance and I imply the household reunion goes to be nice in order that’s all I do know,” he mentioned.

UConn enters rarefied air as solely the sixth crew to win 5 NCAA males’s basketball championships, becoming a member of UCLA (11), Kentucky (eight), North Carolina (six), Duke (5) and Indiana (5). All of UConn’s titles have come since 1999 with the newest earlier than Monday occurring in 2014.

UConn’s ladies’s groups have received 11 basketball nationwide titles.

Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet brings a fresh perspective to the world of journalism, combining her youthful energy with a keen eye for detail. Her passion for storytelling and commitment to delivering reliable information make her a trusted voice in the industry. Whether she’s unraveling complex issues or highlighting inspiring stories, her writing resonates with readers, drawing them in with clarity and depth.
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