Duke Squanders 19-Point Lead, Loses to UConn in Elite Eight

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The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils were stunned by a late comeback from the 2-seed UConn Huskies, losing 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the men's NCAA Tournament. Duke had led by as many as 19 points with just 6 seconds remaining before a dramatic UConn rally capped by a deep game-winning three-pointer sealed the Blue Devils' fate.

Why it matters

Duke's loss continues a trend of heartbreaking tournament exits for the perennial powerhouse, who have now fallen in the Elite Eight in three straight seasons despite being a top seed each time. The Blue Devils' inability to close out games has raised questions about their mental toughness and ability to win close tournament matchups.

The details

After building a 19-point lead late in the game, Duke appeared to be cruising to the Final Four. However, a turnover by freshman Cayden Boozer allowed UConn's Baylin Mullins to hit a deep three-pointer with less than a second remaining to complete the stunning comeback. Duke was led by Cameron Boozer's 27 points and 8 rebounds, while Caden Boozer added 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

• Duke led by as many as 19 points with just 6 seconds left in the game.
• Baylin Mullins hit the game-winning three-pointer for UConn with less than a second remaining.