Connecticut Takes Home Fifth NCAA Men's Basketball Title, Dominating San Diego State in Championship Match-Up
The University of Connecticut has clinched its fifth NCAA men's basketball title with a convincing 76-59 victory over San Diego State University at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Huskies' win marked the program's sixth national championship overall.
Senior guard Tristen Newton led UConn to the title with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Adama Sanogo chipped in with 17 points and 10 rebounds, earning him the title of Final Four Most Outstanding Player. The Huskies' performance was a far cry from their early season struggles, when they lost six games in eight contests.
"We weren't ranked going into the year so we had the chip on our shoulder," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said, referencing the team's underdog status. "We knew the level that we could play at, even through those dark times." Hurley credited his team's confidence garnered during the season as key to their success in the tournament.
San Diego State's Keshad Johnson scored 14 points in the losing effort, but the Aztecs were unable to overcome UConn's dominance. San Diego State trailed for most of the game, eventually narrowing the deficit to five with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Huskies responded with an 11-minute scoring drought, cementing their lead.
The Huskies' win marked a rarefied achievement for the program, as only six teams have won multiple NCAA men's basketball championships since 1999. UConn joins an elite group of programs that include UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and Indiana.
UConn's women's team has also enjoyed immense success in recent years, winning 11 national titles. This latest victory was a fitting capstone to the program's dominant run, with several Huskies players already celebrating their own family reunions after achieving separate championships with their respective teams – Jordan Hawkins won the title with his cousin Angel Reese at Louisiana State University.
For UConn coach Dan Hurley and his team, this championship win marked a satisfying conclusion to a remarkable season. As they celebrate their fifth NCAA men's basketball title, the Huskies will enter the program's storied history as one of the most accomplished teams in recent memory.
The University of Connecticut has clinched its fifth NCAA men's basketball title with a convincing 76-59 victory over San Diego State University at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Huskies' win marked the program's sixth national championship overall.
Senior guard Tristen Newton led UConn to the title with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Adama Sanogo chipped in with 17 points and 10 rebounds, earning him the title of Final Four Most Outstanding Player. The Huskies' performance was a far cry from their early season struggles, when they lost six games in eight contests.
"We weren't ranked going into the year so we had the chip on our shoulder," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said, referencing the team's underdog status. "We knew the level that we could play at, even through those dark times." Hurley credited his team's confidence garnered during the season as key to their success in the tournament.
San Diego State's Keshad Johnson scored 14 points in the losing effort, but the Aztecs were unable to overcome UConn's dominance. San Diego State trailed for most of the game, eventually narrowing the deficit to five with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Huskies responded with an 11-minute scoring drought, cementing their lead.
The Huskies' win marked a rarefied achievement for the program, as only six teams have won multiple NCAA men's basketball championships since 1999. UConn joins an elite group of programs that include UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and Indiana.
UConn's women's team has also enjoyed immense success in recent years, winning 11 national titles. This latest victory was a fitting capstone to the program's dominant run, with several Huskies players already celebrating their own family reunions after achieving separate championships with their respective teams – Jordan Hawkins won the title with his cousin Angel Reese at Louisiana State University.
For UConn coach Dan Hurley and his team, this championship win marked a satisfying conclusion to a remarkable season. As they celebrate their fifth NCAA men's basketball title, the Huskies will enter the program's storied history as one of the most accomplished teams in recent memory.