Miami Hurricanes 59 vs 72 University of Connecticut Huskies summary: stats and highlights | NCAA Final Four
Dan Hurley has brought the Huskies back to where they grew so used to being in the early 2000's. This program is back and looking for their fifth National Championship in school history.
The final is all set. A college basketball institution taking on a team looking to write their name in the history books for the first time. UCONN vs. San Diego State on Monday night from Houston.
This lob to Andre Jackson was the nail in Miami's coffin. They went up 14 with under 4 to go and cruised to another double digit victory in the tournament.
It looked as though Miami was going to make a little run after going down 20 in the second half, but Hawkins shut that down with a three ball to take the wind out of the sails of the Canes.
Remember, this game was tied at 19-19 in the first half, but UCONN was getting easy buckets all night, and even when they had tough shots they falling for Jordan Hawkins and the Huskies. Hawkins was battle a stomach bug all week, but played on Saturday night and put up 13 points.
Sanogo continued to dominate on the offensive end into the second half and finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Alex Karkaban had the second best buzzer beater of the night, hitting this three as the clock expired to send the Huskies into the break up 13 .
UCONN had 9 threes on the night, but 6 of those came in the first half to set the tone for the rest of the game.
The UCONN defense looked the Canes high powered offense down all night. Miami made just 9 field goals and were held to 25% shooting in the first half, and those numbers didn't improve much after halftime.
Miami erased the early deficit and tied the game up at 19-19, but the Huskies would go on a 18-5 run to end the half, starting with this baseline lay up by Joey Calcaterra.
Miami scored just two points heading into the first TV timeout, and that allowed UCONN to jump out to a double digit lead.
The big man Adama Sanogo did a little bit of everything including drain a couple threes against a Miami team that had a little answer for him down low.
The Huskies jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. They started hot from downtown, and then let their defense led them to victory.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! UCONN IS GOING BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY!!!
Robinson at the line, and he hits both FTs after the foul on Hurley.
Sanogo at the line, but he misses both FTs with under a minute to go.
Lob up for Alleyne who lay it up and this game is all over!
Wong was fouled on the three pointer and he hits all three FTs.
We are under two to go in the second half.
Sanogo had the offensive board fall in his lap and got the put back to fall. He's got 21 on the night to lead UCONN!
Newton down the lane and lobs it up to Jackson for the alley oop and the lead is back up to 14!
Time is running out for Miami who take a timeout with 3:34 to go in the game.
We are headed to the last TV timeout here from Houston. UCONN are 3:57 away from returning to the National Championship for the first time in a long time!
Another offensive rebound for UCONN leads to Karaban's drive to the dish. He gets the lay up and the foul! FT is no good but the lead is 12 with 4:00 to go.
Miller at the line after the foul on Newton and he hits both FT. 4:48 to go in the second half.
In bound to Jackson under the basket and he goes right up with it for the short range effort.
Joseph cut the lead to 10 with a three ball from the top of the key and Miami is still hanging around.
Omier banging down low again, and he gets the reverse lay up to go.
Miami shows press off the out of bounds play and Jackson breaks it with a huge highlight slam!
Omier gets the offensive board off the Miller miss and he gets the put back to go over Clingan.
Miller had the rebound popped out of his hands, and Alleyne was there to scoop the loose ball and hit the floater in the lane. Timeout Miami with 8:26 to go in the game.
We are headed to the under 12 timeout in Houston with the Huskies staring to take back control of this game.
Hawkins with his second three ball of the second half and the lead is back up to 13!
Clingan brings some calm to UCONN with an offensive board and put back to put the Huskies back up 10.
Wong pulls the trigger from the top of the key and the Hurricane's cut the lead to single digits!
Wong got into the paint, and hit a turn around jumper over Clingan. Miami is on a 12-4 run.
Hawkins was fouled behind the line by Beverley and he hits two of three FTs.
Beverley strings a three ball and if Miami are going to get back into this game, they are going to need to see some of those drop.
Offensive rebound for UCONN leads to another bucket for Sanogo who's got 19 on the night!
Omier with a steal and he finds Miller streaking down the court for a transition lay up. 7-0 run for Miami, and the Huskies take a timeout with 14:18 left in the second half.
Wong on the strip and the slam to give the Canes some wind in their sails.
Joseph answers back with a three ball, and Miami is not going to go down without a fight!
Hawkins with another body blow to Miami, he drills the three ball to but the Huskies back up by 19.
Omier at the line and he hits both out of the timeout.
We are at the first TV timeout of the second half, and the Canes are in danger letting this game get out of hand.
Pack with a drive to the cup and he finishes with the finger roll.
Hawkins to the line after a foul on Omeir and he hits both FTs.
Karaban drills a three ball and he's got a couple deep balls tonight.
Omier finally gets a little love down low, and gets the lay up to drop.
Sanogo on the pump fake, put it on the deck and got the baseline lay up to go. He's doing a little bit of everything tonight!
Sanogo starting where he left off with another bucket down low. He's got 15 on the night.
WE ARE BACK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION IN HOUSTON!
Karkaban was hanging on the perimeter all alone for the buzzer beating three ball to send the Huskies to half up 13.
The Huskies went on an 18-5 run after Miami tied the game up. Calcaterra hit this three ball to put the Canes back up big.
Miami has just 9 FGs through the first half, and Clingan shows you just why it's been so tough for the Canes though 20 minutes.
Pack tied the game up at 19-19 with a three ball, but the Huskies went on an 8-0 run to take command of the game again.
Miller had an outstanding game in the Elite 8, and tonight he has 7 points and 8 rebounds in the first half.
Miami got back into the game after going down double digits, but nothing has been easy. Beverly had this double clutch reverse lay up, but UCONN wasn't giving up easy buckets on the defensive end.
UCONN shot 6/13 from downtown in the first half, and they are shooting 50% from the field after 20 minutes.
Sanogo got some easy buckets down low, but also stretched the defense out by showing his range.
Sanogo leads all scorers with 13 points and Newton has added another 7.
MIller has 7 points and 8 rebounds, but everyone else has yet to step up. Wong has 5 and Pack has two threes, but Miami has been struggling.
Karkaban drops the three ball as the clock expires to send the Huskies to the break up 13. The Canes were held to just nine field goals in what was their lowest scoring half of the season!
Alleyne gets to the elbow and pulls up off the dribble! The lead is back to 10 with under a minute to go in the half.
Pack answers back with a much needed three ball!
Calcaterra pulls up from long range after the defender took a chance at a steal and left him wide open!
Alleyen got his own long rebound off the missed three and he goes right at Omier and gets the lay up to go after hanging in the air.
Miller with the tip in off his own miss and that breaks a scoreless spell of almost 4:30 minutes.
We are headed to the final TV timeout with 3:56 to go in the first half.
UCONN is on an 8-0 run since Miami tied the game up. Timeout Miami with 4:17 to go in the first half.
Newton to the line after a foul on Pack, and he hits both at the line.
Pick and roll from Sonogo and he gets the lay up after a perfect pass from Alleyne.
Newton sprinting down the baseline and gets the lay up to go.
Timeout in Houston with 7:40 to go in the first half.
Calcatera moving off the ball and gets the lay up after the back door cut on the baseline.
Pack ties up the game and erases the early 10 point deficit with a three ball on the wing!
Sanogo going to the line after picking up the offensive board and he hits one of two at the line.
Miller follows the Walker miss and gets the tip in and the foul for his first points of the night! FT is good to complete the three point play!
Sanogo with another easy bucket down low after UCONN got the Miami defense moving on the perimeter. He's got 10 already tonight.
Another forced turnover turns into a fast break slam for Beverley on the break!
Baseline drive from Joseph and he makes a miraculous double clutch reverse lay up.
Beverley with the strip and score in transition and that will bring us to the second TV timeout of the night with 11:41 to go in the first half.
Clingan has the size advantage downlow and UCONN is using him. They go down to the big man, and he gets the basket and the foul! FT is good to complete the three point play!
Wong on the step back and drills the three ball over the outstretched hand of the defender!
Newton bangs home a deep three ball to stretch the lead to 10 in the opening minutes of the game.
Sanogo gets the entry pass from Newton and finishes under the basket in traffic.
Wong at the line out of the timeout and he hits both FTs after Jackson's second foul.
We are headed to the first TV timeout, and the Huskies lead after a slow start for the Canes who have scored just two points in the first four minutes of the game.
Miller driving to the lane and a goaltending call will give the Canes their first points of the night.
Sanogo with another triple try for two in a row and the Huskies lead by 9!
Sanogo double the lead with a three ball of his own! Early lead thanks to some good shooting from outside for UCONN!
Hawkins gets us going with a three ball to start the UCONN night. He was battling a stomach bug all week long, but wasn't going to miss the biggest game of his life.
WE ARE UNDERWAY IN THE SECOND SEMIFINAL FROM HOUSTON! UCONN VS. MIAMI STARTS NOW!!
Star watch: Miami
Isaish Wong is the star for the Hurricanes but it’s been Jordan Miller who has shined under the light in the tournament. Wong is averaging 16 points a game this season, and bounced back big in the second half against the Longhorns after a 2 points opening 20 minutes. Miller is getting 15.4 a night, and he was a perfect 7/7 from the field and 13/13 from the line in the Elite 8.
Star watch: UCONN
Adama Sanogo is the big man on campus for the Huskies. He heads up one of the best inside out duos in the country alongside Jordan Hawkins. Sanogo is posting 17.1 ppg and he also leads the Huskies in rebounds with 7.5 boards an outing. Hawkins is a sharpshooter on the perimeter, getting 16.3 points and shoots almost 40% from three points range. He is just above his average, averaging over 17 points points in the tournament. Sanogo started the tournament with 28 points against Iona, and 24 against St. Mary’s. He had 10 last game, but the game was well in hand against a Zags team that struggled all night.
Miami's last game
Miami didn’t have a bad first half against Texas, but the Longhorns caught fire at the end of the fist half, and built up an eight point lead. Their top scorer Isaiah Wong had yet to get going. Texas looked like they were going to take control in the second half, but Wong got going, and Jordan Miller had a perfect night from the field and from the line in his 27 point effort. The Longhorns went cold at the end of the game, scoring just six points in the final four minutes of the game and the Hurricanes advanced to the semis for the first time in program history.
Last game UCONN
The Huskies met the Gonzaga Bulldogs who seemed to have some momentum as they ran through the tournament, but UCONN put an end to their title run with a 28 point blowout in the Elite 8. Connecticut was up seven at the break, but stretched the lead out to as many as 33 points in the second half. They held the Zags to 2-20 from downtown, and 33.3% from the field as Jordan Hawkins had 20 points to lead the Huskies in the blowout win.
How they got here: UCONN
UCONN was in the Top-10 at the end of the season after going 29-8, and losing in the semis of the Big East Championship. They got a four seed in the West bracket and bounced back from their lost to Marquette with a first round win over 13 seed Iona to start their run to the Final Four. It was a 5 vs 4 match up in the second round and the Huskies cruised past St. Mary’s in a 15 point victory. Their last two wins have been blowouts over Arkansas and Gonzaga. They beat the Razorbacks by 23 and then took down Drew Timme and the Bulldogs by almost 30.
How they got here: Miami
Miami went 29-7 in the regular season, and were ranked 16th after a semifinal loss to Duke in the ACC Championship. They got a 5 seed in the Midwest bracket, pairing them up with Drake in the opening round. They got through the always difficult 5 vs. 12 matchup and met Indiana in the next round. They took care of the 4th seeded Hoosiers, and that set up a showdown with the top seeded Houston Cougars who they wiped out 89-75. Their closest game came against Texas in the Elite 8. They took down Texas with a huge second half to get to their first Final Four in program history.
We are live from Houston
Hello everyone and welcome to RPG Stadium where the UCONN Huskies are back in the Final Four for the first time in almost a decade. They were an NCAA Tournament institution at the turn of the century, but and after a nine year drought they are back on the big stage. The Miami Hurricanes have been on the up since Jim Larrañaga came to the sidelines and he is on the verge of taking Miami new heights.
Miami vs. UCONN
Our second Final Four tip off of the night is a battle of an NCAA Tournament powerhouse taking on a team looking to take their program to the next step. The UCONN Huskies are back on college basketball’s biggest stage taking on an on-the-rise Miami Hurricanes team and AS English will be with you all night with live stats, scores, highlights and analysis of tonight’s second semifinal from Houston.