UConn 71, Illinois 62: Huskies Grind Past Fighting Illini to Reach Third Title Game in Four Years

INDIANAPOLIS — Braylon Mullins has made a habit of delivering in the biggest moments of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium was no different.

The UConn freshman drained a 3-pointer with 52.1 seconds remaining — extending the Huskies' lead to 66-59 — as No. 2 UConn held off a late Illinois rally to win 71-62 and advance to Monday's national championship game. It is the program's third title game appearance in four seasons under head coach Dan Hurley.

Tarris Reed Jr. Dominates Inside

If Mullins was the hero, Tarris Reed Jr. was the engine. The junior center finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds — his third double-double of the tournament — on 6-of-12 shooting. Reed was a physical presence that Illinois simply could not match, drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line when it mattered most.

"Tarris was incredible tonight," Hurley said postgame. "He gave us a foundation to build everything else around. When you have that kind of presence inside, it opens up everything on the perimeter."

Mullins finished with 15 points, including two critical 3-pointers in the second half. His shot-making has been the defining story of UConn's tournament run — he hit the buzzer-beater over Duke in the Elite Eight and now this dagger against Illinois.

Illinois' Offense Goes Cold

Illinois entered the Final Four as the most efficient offense in college basketball. On Saturday, that reputation took a severe hit.

The Fighting Illini shot just 35% from the field and 29% from 3-point range — their worst shooting performance of the season. Freshman Keaton Wagler led Illinois with 20 points and eight rebounds, but he was the only Illini player to reach double figures. Guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who had been brilliant all tournament, was held to just 8 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

UConn's defense — which ranked in the top 10 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency — was the difference. The Huskies forced 14 turnovers and consistently disrupted Illinois' ball movement in the half-court.

The Betting Angle

UConn opened as a 2.5-point favorite and closed at -3. The Huskies covered, but the game went Under the total of 133.5 — a result that sharp bettors who faded Illinois' offensive reputation were rewarded for. The Under has now hit in four of UConn's five tournament games.

For Monday's national championship against Michigan, UConn opened as a 6.5-point underdog. The Huskies have covered as a dog in three of their four tournament games as an underdog. That trend is worth monitoring.

What's Next

UConn faces No. 1 Michigan on Monday night at 8:50 p.m. ET on TBS. The Wolverines demolished Arizona 91-73 in the nightcap, scoring 90+ points for the fifth consecutive tournament game. It sets up a classic matchup: Michigan's historically dominant offense against the most battle-tested defense in the country.

For Illinois, the season ends at 28-9 — the program's best record since 2005. Wagler, a freshman, is expected to return next season as one of the Big Ten's premier players.