UConn's Miraculous Comeback: Mullins' Buzzer-Beater Sinks Duke in Elite Eight Thriller
In a stunning display of March Madness magic, the UConn Huskies pulled off one of the most improbable victories in NCAA Tournament history, rallying from a 19-point first-half deficit to defeat the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The game-winning shot came from freshman Braylon Mullins, who sank a desperation 3-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining, sending UConn to the Final Four and leaving Duke reeling from a second consecutive season-ending collapse.
A Frantic Final Sequence
The dramatic finish unfolded in the closing seconds at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. With Duke leading by three points, UConn's Silas Demary Jr. made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left. The Blue Devils attempted to run out the clock, but Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary. UConn recovered the loose ball, and Mullins, after a quick exchange with Alex Karaban, launched a 35-foot shot that swished through the net as the buzzer sounded.
"We were trying to foul the worst free-throw shooter on the floor, and Silas ended up deflecting the pass," Mullins said. "I knew I had to put one up. Man, I'm just happy that was the one that went down tonight."
UConn head coach Dan Hurley opted not to call a timeout in the final moments, trusting his players to seize the moment. "It just felt like the window where you've just got to let March Madness take over," Hurley explained. "March magic."
Historic Comeback and Duke's Heartbreak
The Huskies' comeback is one of the largest in regional final history, trailing only Louisville's 20-point rally against West Virginia in 2005. Duke had dominated early, building a 44-25 lead late in the first half and taking a 44-29 advantage into halftime. This marks the largest halftime lead ever blown by a No. 1 seed in the tournament.
UConn struggled offensively for much of the game, missing 17 of their first 18 attempts from 3-point range. Tarris Reed Jr. led the Huskies with 26 points, but it was Mullins' fifth and final 3-pointer that will be remembered for generations in Connecticut.
For Duke, the loss is a devastating repeat of last season's collapse, when they fell to Houston in the national semifinals after leading by six with 1:14 left. Cameron Boozer scored 27 points for the Blue Devils, but his twin brother Cayden's critical pass was intercepted in the final seconds.
"I could not be more disappointed and feeling for our guys, at the same time of just trying to process what happened," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. "I don't have the words. I don't have the words."
UConn's Tournament Dominance Continues
With this victory, UConn extends its winning streak to 18 consecutive games in the Sweet 16 or later rounds, dating back to a loss to Michigan State in the 2009 Final Four. The Huskies have now defeated Duke three straight times in the NCAA Tournament, including previous wins in the 1999 title game and the 2004 semifinals.
Hurley is now aiming to lead UConn to its third national title in four seasons, a feat not accomplished since UCLA's dynasty in the 1970s. The Huskies will face third-seeded Illinois in the semifinals on Saturday in Indianapolis, a rematch of their 2024 Elite Eight meeting, which UConn won 77-52.
Mullins' shot joins the pantheon of iconic NCAA Tournament game-winners, such as Christian Laettner's for Duke in 1992 and Kris Jenkins' for Villanova in 2016. "Just another chapter in the UConn-Duke NCAA Tournament dramatics," Hurley remarked, acknowledging the historic rivalry between the two programs.
As UConn celebrates its miraculous advance, Duke faces an offseason of reflection, with Cameron Boozer expected to depart for the NBA. The Blue Devils finish the season with a 35-3 record, but this loss will linger as a painful reminder of March's unpredictability.
