Braylon Mullins's 3-Pointer Sends UConn To 3rd Final Four In 4 Seasons

Freshman guard Braylon Mullins made a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining, clinching UConn's 73-72 victory over Duke in the East Region final.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the final seconds of the UConn vs. Duke basketball game, with fragmented images of players, basketballs, and court lines overlapping to capture the intensity and drama of the game-winning shot.Braylon Mullins's last-second heroics propel UConn to the Final Four in dramatic fashion.Greenfield Today

Freshman guard Braylon Mullins made a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining to give UConn a stunning 73-72 victory over Duke in the East Region final of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The Huskies trailed by as many as 19 points and had made just one of their first 18 3-pointers before Mullins's heroics sent them to the Final Four, which will be held in Indianapolis, just 25 miles from Mullins's hometown of Greenfield, Indiana.

Why it matters

This was UConn's third consecutive memorable NCAA tournament victory against Duke, topping their previous wins in 1999 and 2004. The Huskies' comeback and Mullins's game-winning shot at the buzzer are sure to go down as one of the most thrilling finishes in tournament history.

The details

Trailing 72-70 with 10 seconds left, UConn's Silas Demary Jr. made a free throw to cut the deficit to one. Duke's Cayden Boozer then threw the ball away, and Mullins recovered it past midcourt. He immediately passed to senior Alex Karaban, who returned the ball to Mullins, who had missed all four of his 3-point attempts earlier in the game. But Mullins didn't hesitate, and his shot from just over halfcourt found the bottom of the net as time expired.

  • With less than a second remaining, Braylon Mullins hit the game-winning 3-pointer to give UConn a 73-72 victory over Duke.
  • UConn trailed by as many as 19 points in the game before mounting their comeback.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard for UConn who hit the game-winning 3-pointer to send the Huskies to the Final Four, just 25 miles from his hometown of Greenfield, Indiana.

Alex Karaban

A four-year starter for UConn who has the most games played (149) and victories (125) in program history. He struggled with his shot early but made a crucial 3-pointer late to help fuel the Huskies' comeback.

Tarris Reed Jr.

A UConn forward who had 26 points and 9 rebounds, keeping the Huskies in the game despite their poor shooting performance.

Cameron Boozer

The national player of the year, a freshman forward for Duke who scored a game-high 27 points in the loss.

Dan Hurley

The UConn head coach who has now led the Huskies to three Final Fours in the last four seasons, including national titles in 2023 and 2024.

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What they’re saying

“That was the goal and the dream, to get me back home. Man, it's just crazy that that's happening.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn Freshman Guard

“When I saw him release it, I was like, 'That really might go in.' It went in, and the Indiana kid sent us to Indianapolis.”

— Alex Karaban, UConn Senior Forward

“I think of all the times I've been around it, this is the singularly most incredible moment following college basketball.”

— Bob Hurley, Naismith Hall of Famer and Father of UConn Coach Dan Hurley

What’s next

UConn will face Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday night in Indianapolis. The Huskies defeated Illinois 74-61 earlier this season and also beat them 77-52 in the 2024 Elite Eight.

The takeaway

UConn's thrilling comeback victory over Duke, capped by Braylon Mullins's game-winning 3-pointer, showcases the Huskies' resilience and ability to win close games. This win sends them to the Final Four in Indianapolis, just miles from Mullins's hometown, setting the stage for an emotional homecoming as UConn seeks its third national championship in four seasons.