UConn tops Purdue, completes dominant run for back-to-back national titles
After what was one of the most dominant runs we’ve seen in the NCAA tournament in years, the UConn Huskies join an exclusive club in capturing back-to-back national titles.
UConn has defeated Purdue, 75-60, to win its second consecutive NCAA tournament championship and sixth national title. The Huskies are 12-1 all-time at the Final Four and have won 12 consecutive tournament games by double digits.
Zach Edey had 37 points on 15-for-25 shooting and 10 rebounds, giving him at least 20 points and 10 boards for the seventh straight tournament game, surpassing a mark set by Houston’s Elvin Hayes in 1968-69. But his remarkable performance was overshadowed by the relentless Huskies.
Newton led four UConn starters in double-figure scoring with 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
Stephon Castle had 15 points, Cam Spencer had 11 points and eight rebounds, Donovan Clingan scored 11 and Hassan Diarra had nine.
Braden Smith added 12 points and eight assists for Purdue, but nobody else scored more than five for the Boilermakers, who trailed for more than 32 minutes and by double digits for nearly the entire second half.
UConn’s Tristan Newton was named the Most Outstanding Player for the second time on Monday.
Newton headlines the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four All-Tournament Team. Joining him were fellow Huskies Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan and Cam Spencer.
Zach Edey was the lone Purdue player named to the five-man team.
Purdue season still a success
Adam Miskus grew up in northwest Indiana and had watched Purdue since he was a kid before going to the school. He was very disappointed to watch his team falter in the last game of the season.“Watching them, they could have done really well, first 15 minutes (were) really good… but they just kept letting (UCONN) walk all over them. It was really just embarrassing.”Despite the tough loss, Miskus still views this season as a huge success considering the school had lost in early rounds of March Madness the last few, but wishes they could have pulled one more out.
“Last year’s (exit) was in the round of 32, this is just so much better, I’ll take it. It was what I wished but still disappointing.”
— Dylan Wickman
UConn owns a 65-49 lead with just under four minutes to play and the Huskies’ second consecutive national title appears a formality.
Zach Edey has 29 points and nine rebounds for Purdue.
Tristen Newton has 16 points to lead three Huskies in double-figure scoring. Samson Johnson fouled out for UConn with the Huskies ahead by 17 points, at 63-46, with about 5½ minutes to go.
The announced crowd is 74,423, the third-highest attendance in NCAA tournament championship game history.
UConn continues pulling away, with Stephon Castle hitting a three to give the Huskies a 59-42 lead with eight minutes to go. Donovan Clingan has picked up his fourth foul.
Zach Edey has 22 points and eight rebounds for Purdue. Braden Smith has 11 points.
Tristen Newton has 16 points, Castle has 11 and Hassan Diarra and Cam Spencer each have nine for UConn.
Alex Karaban hit a three and Hassan Diarra hit a layup to give UConn a 56-40 lead, its largest of the night, with about 9½ minutes to go.
Purdue, meanwhile, has gone more than four minutes without a field goal.
The Huskies have outscored Purdue 20-10 in the second half and appear well on their way to a second consecutive national championship.
UConn leads Purdue 51-38 with about 11½ minutes remaining in the game.
Samson Johnson threw down an alley-oop dunk to give UConn a double-digit lead, 45-34, with 15 minutes to play, then delivered another slam behind Zach Edey to push UConn’s advantage to 47-34 with about 14 minutes to go.
The 13-point lead was the largest of the night, but Johnson picked up his fourth foul shortly thereafter and headed to the bench.
The Huskies, which are undefeated when leading at halftime this season, are outscoring the Boilermakers 32-24 in the paint and 11-2 off the bench. They also own a 29-21 lead in rebounds.
Edey has a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds for Purdue. Braden Smith has nine points, but nobody else has more than four.
Tristen Newton has 16 points to lead UConn. Cam Spencer has nine points and eight rebounds. Stephon Castle has eight points and Clingan and Hassan Diarra have each added seven.
Tristen Newton hit a deep three to give UConn a 39-30 lead, its largest of the night, in the first minute of the second half.
Trey Kaufman-Renn hit a layup to stem the bleeding, but Stephon Castle answered at the other end. He then missed a pair of free throws that would have given the Huskies a double-digit advantage.
Camden Heide delivered a one-handed jam to bring Purdue within seven, but another Castle layup kept the UConn advantage at nine, 43-34, with about 16 minutes remaining in the game.
UConn owns a 36-30 lead, having closed the half by outscoring Purdue 15-7.
The Boilermakers hadn’t scored in nearly 2½ minutes heading into the break.
Zach Edey has 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting, five rebounds and three blocks to lead Purdue. Braden Smith has nine points, but nobody else has hit more than a single bucket.
Tristen Newton has 11 points to lead UConn. Cam Spencer, Donovan Clingan and Hassan Diarra each have seven.
The game has featured eight ties and five lead changes, with the Huskies leading the way for more than 12 minutes. UConn has a slight 16-15 edge in rebounds and 20-18 edge in points in the paint.
Teresa Meadows is a fan of San Diego State, but still traveled to the Glendale for the Final Four. She and her husband have made a tradition of going to the Final Four for 12 years because they are huge basketball fans. They have lucked out by winning a lottery to the event every year.“We just have a good time. We love the energy of college basketball.”She said the environment this year has been a little quieter compared to other years but thought Monday would have a good showing.“It’s a little quieter this year, not as energetic until today. Then you went through WestGate and it was a big party between Purdue and UConn.”
— Dylan Wickman
UConn has opened a 30-25 lead, its largest of the game, with just under four minutes to play in the first half, taking advantage of Purdue making just one of its last seven shots.
Zach Edey has 16 points and five rebounds for the Boilermakers.
Tristen Newton has nine points to lead UConn, which is spreading the ball around well, with Cam Spencer, Donovan Clingan and Hassan Diarra each contributing seven points.
UConn and Purdue are tied 23-23 with just under 7 minutes remaining in the first half.
Edey has 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, three rebounds and three blocks to lead Purdue and is thoroughly dominating the matchup with Donovan Clingan, who has been limited to two points, two rebounds and one block.
Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer have seven points apiece for UConn.
Purdue big man Zach Edey delivered a two-handed dunk, and back-to-back blocks, then hit a pair of jumpers and a free throw to knot the score at 16.
He has 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
Cam Spencer has seven points to lead UConn. Tristen Newton has five.
Spencer has seven points on 3-for-3 shooting to lead the Huskies. Zach Edey has four points to lead the Boilermakers.
Both teams are shooting 57% from the field and are perfect from the foul line. There have been three lead changes and three ties.
Purdue
2 Fletcher Loyer, So; 3 Braden Smith, So.; 4 Trey Kaufman-Renn, So.; 15 Zach Edey, Sr.; 55 Lance Jones, 5th Yr Sr
UConn
2 Tristen Newton, Gr.; 5 Stephon Castle, Fr.; 11 Alex Karaban, So.; 12 Cam Spencer, Gr.; 32 Donovan Clingan, So
Fans get ready for NCAA championship game at State Farm Stadium
Fans brought the color and excitement of a great college atmosphere to the NCAA men’s basketball championship game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Chris Blaney, also known as “The Mackey Mad Man,” claimed Monday evening to be the biggest Purdue fan of all time. He dawned a Purdue flag draped down his back, a golden belt, with his face painted black and gold. About 12 years ago, Blaney used to run the Paint Crew, Purdue’s official student section for the university’s men’s basketball team. Today, the organization brings nearly 3,000 passionate members to cheer on at home games within the Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
He said a national championship is probably the most exciting thing he could imagine happening to him.“I’m single without any prospects, and I say that just because I feel like this is how a female would feel on her wedding day. I think those are the emotions running through my veins at the moment.”He hopes to lead Purdue’s crowd one more time to victory and predicts a six-point win for the Boilermakers.
— Dylan Wickman
How to watch Purdue vs. UConn in National Championship Game
When: Monday, 6:20 p.m. Pacific time (9:20 p.m. ET)
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
TV channels: TBS/TNT/truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Bill Raftery and Grant Hill (analysts), Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
Streaming: Sling TV
STREAM THE GAME: Watch Purdue vs. UConn on truTV, TBS, TNT with Sling TV
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