UConn Stuns Duke with Last-Second Shot to Reach Final Four

Braylon Mullins hit a dramatic three-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining to lift UConn over top-seeded Duke 73-72. The Huskies overcame a 19-point first-half deficit to secure their spot in the Final Four.

In a stunning upset that will be remembered for years, Braylon Mullins nailed a clutch three-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining to propel UConn past top-seeded Duke 73-72, securing the Huskies a place in the Final Four after overcoming a massive 19-point first-half deficit.

Duke appeared to have control of the game, holding a three-point advantage before UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. converted one of two free throws with 10 seconds on the clock. As the Blue Devils attempted to run out the clock and avoid fouling situations, Cayden Boozer’s pass near center court was knocked away. UConn recovered the loose ball, setting up Demary’s long-range shot from well beyond the arc. This marks consecutive seasons ending in devastating fashion for Duke, who entered as the tournament’s overall top seed.

The championship semifinals are now confirmed with UConn’s dramatic victory over Duke completing the Final Four bracket alongside Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. Illinois will meet UConn while Michigan squares off against Arizona this Saturday, with victors advancing to Monday’s championship game. The Arizona-Michigan contest features two top seeds, while UConn enters as a second seed facing third-seeded Illinois. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Arizona leads as the early championship favorite followed by Michigan. The game-winning shot came from Mullins, who was raised near Indianapolis where the title game will be played.

Gary Woodland captured his first PGA Tour victory since undergoing brain surgery, claiming the Houston Open title just 30 months after his medical procedure. Woodland dominated the field, building leads as large as seven strokes and closing with a 67 to win by four shots. The golfer underwent surgery in September 2023 to remove a brain lesion that had caused irrational fears about dying. Two weeks prior to his Houston triumph, Woodland publicly shared his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder during an emotional Golf Channel interview. The victory earns him entry into the Masters tournament.

The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed head coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, immediately naming John Tortorella as his replacement. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon made the announcement following the team’s struggles, having dropped three consecutive games and six of their last seven contests. Tortorella brings 24 seasons of NHL head coaching experience to Vegas, though he was not coaching this season and served as a U.S. assistant coach at the Milan Cortina Olympics where the team captured gold. He previously guided Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup championship in 2004. Cassidy had led the Golden Knights to their 2023 Stanley Cup title but was terminated less than three years into his tenure.

Yaxel Lendeborg powered Michigan’s dominant 95-62 victory over Tennessee with 27 points, propelling the Wolverines into the Final Four alongside Elliot Cadeau’s 10 assists in the NCAA Tournament rout. Morez Johnson Jr. contributed 12 points as top-seeded Michigan recorded their 11th win this season by 30 or more points. Aday Mara added 11 points and two blocked shots in the Midwest Region championship game. Utilizing their size and athletic advantages on both ends of the floor, Michigan earned their first Final Four berth since 2018 and ninth in program history. The Wolverines will face Arizona in Saturday’s national semifinal.

Defending champion UConn and coach Geno Auriemma advanced to their 25th women’s Final Four with a 70-52 victory over Notre Dame in the Fort Worth Regional final. All-America forward Sarah Strong led the undefeated Huskies with 21 points while Blanca Quiñonez contributed 20 in the win. UConn improved to 38-0 and extended their winning streak to 54 games as they pursue their 13th national championship. Fellow first-team AP All-America selection Azzi Fudd scored 13 points for the Huskies. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Fighting Irish’s season-ending loss.

Lauren Betts dominated with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as UCLA overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Duke 70-58, earning the Bruins their second consecutive women’s Final Four appearance. Top-seeded UCLA will face either Texas or Michigan in Phoenix on Friday’s national semifinal round. The Bruins now sit just two victories away from capturing the program’s first NCAA championship. Third-seeded Duke challenged UCLA more than most opponents this season, with Taina Mair leading the Blue Devils with 21 points in their second straight regional final defeat.

Chase Elliott outmaneuvered Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway to capture his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season. Elliott benefited from a strategic decision by crew chief Alan Gustafson to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet ahead of other contenders on Sunday. When a caution flag waved on lap 312, Elliott held the lead and joined other lead-lap drivers in pitting, except for Ross Chastain. Elliott passed Chastain following the restart and controlled the final 69 laps, winning by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota. Joey Logano claimed third place, with Ty Gibbs and William Byron rounding out the top five.

Irish rugby player Neff Giwa has committed to South Carolina’s football program despite never playing American football. The 6-foot-7½, 295-pound athlete from Tipperary chose the Gamecocks over scholarship offers from Miami, North Carolina, SMU, Tennessee and Texas to play offensive line. The 20-year-old, who also holds Nigerian citizenship, only became interested in football several months ago and connected with American recruiter Brandon Collier in Germany. Collier arranged a recent tour of U.S. colleges for Giwa, whose workout video attracted attention from multiple universities.

Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami and Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter have joined an exclusive group by homering in each of their first three major league games, an achievement accomplished by only two previous players. According to Sportradar, Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in 2016 and Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners in 2019 were the only other players to homer in at least their first three MLB contests. Story holds the major league record with home runs in his first four career games.