Furphy, UConn into Final Four after miracle game-winner

• Dell'orso's three propels Wildcats into Final Four
• ‍Stunning upset as Alex Condon's Florida Gators fall by a point‍
• 'All love': KD talks Cotton clash as Kings take Game 3‍
• Amelia Hassett's title hunt ended by Texas in Texas

A logo three-point game-winner from UConn star Braylon Mullins has completed a miracle comeback from UConn as they came back from as much as 15 points down to beat Duke on the buzzer and move into the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Tournament.

The victory means the men's Final Four will nopw feature two Aussies with Jacob Furphy from UConn and Anthoyn Dell'Orso from the Arizona Wildcats.

Match Recap

Tarris Reed Jr. erupted for 26 points and four blocks as UConn had stunning second-half rally to defeat Duke 73–72 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship East Region Elite Eight. The Huskies overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to advance to the Final Four in dramatic fashion.

Game Snapshot • Half scores: Duke 44–29, UConn 44–28 • Duke shot 52% from the field, UConn 44% • UConn held slight rebounding edge 28–26 • Duke committed 13 turnovers to UConn's five

Reed dominates inside to spark rally

Reed delivered an outstanding performance when UConn needed it most, shooting an efficient 10-of-16 from the field while controlling the paint with nine rebounds and four blocked shots. His interior presence became the catalyst for UConn's second-half surge, repeatedly finishing through contact and anchoring the defensive effort.

The junior centre scored 18 of his 26 points after halftime, consistently finding good looks close to the basket while Duke struggled to contain his combination of size and athleticism. Reed also contributed three assists, showcasing improved court vision in crucial moments.

Cameron Boozer keeps Duke within reach

Cameron Boozer matched Reed's intensity with 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting, adding eight rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes. The Duke star consistently answered UConn runs throughout the second half, converting eight of his 10 free throw attempts to keep the Blue Devils competitive.

Boozer's brother Cayden provided stellar support with 15 points on outstanding 4-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. The younger Boozer added six assists and five rebounds, forming a dynamic duo that nearly carried Duke to victory.

UConn's perimeter shooting struggles early

The Huskies managed just 5-of-23 from three-point range, with Solo Ball enduring a particularly difficult 0-of-5 performance from deep. Despite the poor outside shooting, UConn found other ways to generate offense through Reed's interior dominance and improved ball security.

Silas Demary Jr. chipped in 11 points and five rebounds, while Braylon Mullins added 10 points despite connecting on just one of five three-point attempts. Alex Karaban managed only five points on 2-of-10 shooting but contributed valuable defensive plays with two blocks.

Second-half execution proves decisive

UConn's 44–28 second-half advantage came through relentless attacking of the paint and improved defensive pressure. The Huskies forced Duke into 10 second-half turnovers while maintaining better ball security themselves, finishing with just five turnovers for the game.

Duke's superior three-point shooting (40% vs 22%) and rebounding advantage (34–28) kept them within striking distance, but costly turnovers and missed opportunities at the foul line proved decisive. Dame Sarr provided efficient scoring with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from downtown.

Crunch-time defence seals advancement

The final minutes saw both teams execute at a high level, with neither side able to establish a comfortable margin. UConn's ability to generate stops while Reed continued his dominance in the paint ultimately proved the difference in securing their spot in the Final Four.

By the Numbers

Tarris Reed Jr. (CONN): 26 pts │ 9 reb │ 4 blk │ 10-of-16 FG

Cameron Boozer (DUKE): 27 pts │ 8 reb │ 4 ast │ 10-of-21 FG

Cayden Boozer (DUKE): 15 pts │ 5 reb │ 6 ast │ 4-of-5 FG

Silas Demary Jr. (CONN): 11 pts │ 5 reb │ 4-of-9 FG

Dame Sarr (DUKE): 10 pts │ 4 reb │ 4-of-5 FG

Next Up

UConn advances to the Final Four where they will take on Illinois on Sunday at 8am (AEST)