Mullins' Miracle: How does his shot for UConn measure up to other famous ones in March Madness?

A last-second 3-pointer by UConn freshman Braylon Mullins has entered the pantheon of legendary March Madness moments.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:00pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the final moments of a basketball game, with a player's arm reaching up to shoot a ball as the scoreboard clock counts down the final seconds.Braylon Mullins' last-second heroics for UConn have cemented his place in March Madness lore.Washington Today

A couple of days ago, Braylon Mullins was a UConn freshman whose name carried weight mostly among the true diehards — college basketball junkies and Indiana high school hoops enthusiasts. Now he's a part of NCAA Tournament lore after his 35-footer with 0.4 seconds remaining lifted UConn over Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight. The article evaluates how Mullins' shot measures up to other famous game-winning buzzer-beaters in March Madness history.

Why it matters

Mullins' shot has entered the pantheon of legendary March Madness moments, joining the likes of Michael Jordan, Kris Jenkins, and Christian Laettner. If UConn goes on to win the national championship, Mullins' heroics will be remembered as a defining moment of the Huskies' title run.

The details

Mullins' 35-footer with 0.4 seconds left lifted UConn to a 73-72 win over Duke in the Elite Eight. The shot is being compared to other famous last-second game-winners in NCAA Tournament history, including Charlotte Smith's 3-pointer to win the women's title in 1994 and Arike Ogunbowale's heroics for Notre Dame in 2018. On the men's side, Mullins' shot joins a list of just 16 instances in the Sweet 16 or later where a team trailed before winning with a last-second shot. In terms of degree of difficulty, Mullins' 35-footer is comparable to Jalen Suggs' buzzer-beater for Gonzaga against UCLA in 2021, although Suggs' shot came with the game tied.

  • Mullins' 35-footer came with 0.4 seconds remaining in the game.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A UConn freshman whose last-second 3-pointer lifted the Huskies over Duke in the Elite Eight.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team.

Charlotte Smith

A North Carolina player who made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the women's national title game in 1994.

Arike Ogunbowale

A Notre Dame player who hit game-winning shots in both the semifinal and final of the 2018 women's NCAA Tournament.

Michael Jordan

The North Carolina player who hit a game-winning shot in the 1982 national title game.

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What they’re saying

“One of the most brilliant shooters you'll ever see shoot a basketball made an incredible, legendary March shot.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

What’s next

If UConn goes on to win the national championship, Mullins' shot will be remembered as a defining moment of the Huskies' title run.

The takeaway

Braylon Mullins' last-second 3-pointer to lift UConn over Duke has entered the pantheon of legendary March Madness moments, joining the likes of Michael Jordan, Kris Jenkins, and Christian Laettner. The shot's significance is heightened by the fact that it came in a regional final, with UConn trailing, and could be a pivotal part of a potential national championship run for the Huskies.