UConn men’s basketball defeats Alabama, earns date with Purdue in the championship

PHOENIX, AZ (WFSB) - For the second straight season, the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team finds itself in familiar territory: The NCAA Championship game.

Top-seeded UConn defeated the fourth-seeded University of Alabama in the Final Four on Saturday night in Phoenix.

The final score was 86-72.

The Huskies now have a date with Purdue for the national championship on Monday night. If UConn repeats, it’ll be the first time a team has done it since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007.

Tip off against Alabama happened at 8:49 p.m.

Donovan Clingan opened the game with a block.

UConn scored a couple of buckets and some free throws to put themselves up 7-3 about 2 minutes into the game.

At the first media timeout, UConn led 13-8 following a Cam Spencer 3 pointer. At that point, Stephon Castle had a game-high 8 points.

When Clingan went to the bench, the Crimson Tide attacked the paint. They tied the game with 13:20 to go in the half.

Alabama took the lead on a three pointer, 18-15, with about 12 minutes to go.

They were 5 for 7 from downtown and took a 5 point lead.

Samson Johnson, however, responded with a layup and a jam to make sure it stayed a one-possession game about halfway through the half.

When Clingan came back in, he immediately threw down two monster jams to put the Huskies back on top.

The Crimson Tide tied the game ahead of another media timeout with 7:31 to go in the half.

Both teams missed some fairly rushed shots around the 6 minute mark. UConn led 30-28 at that point.

Tristen Newton put UConn up 4, 35-31, with about 3 minutes until halftime.

With 42 seconds to go, the Huskies led 42-38.

At the half, UConn’s lead stayed 4, 44-40.

During the first 20 minutes of the game, the Crimson Tide shot 73-percent from 3 point territory and 50 percent overall. Mark Sears was their high point man with 11. The Huskies shot 33 percent from 3 and 47 percent overall. Castle had a game high of 13 points.

Castle opened the half with a bucket, 46-40. That was followed by an Alex Karaban layup.

Alabama’s Aaron Estrada kept it close though with a 3 pointer and another bucket. However, Clingan and Karaban kept them at bay with some timely buckets. UConn was up 53-47 with 16 minutes to go.

A Castle alley-oop capped off a 7-0 Husky run to make it 55-47.

The Crimson Tide hit back with another 3, a steal, and a deuce with about 15 minutes to go. That brought Alabama back to within 3.

Alabama went on its own 7-0 run to make it 56-54 UConn.

It went on to tie the game with about 12 minutes to go.

Castle broke the stalemate with a pair of free throws.

Alabama took a timeout after a UConn blitz put them back up by 8, 64-56, with 10:30 to go.

The Crimson Tide were held scoreless for a 3 minute stretch.

A Newton 3 put the Huskies up 9 with 8:20 to go.

A media timeout was taken at the 7:34 mark. UConn’s lead was cut to 6, 67-61.

Castle picked up a fourth foul with about 6:20 to go. Hassan Diarra came in for him. UConn was up 69-61.

Spencer put the Huskies up 10 with about 4 to play.

UConn went up 80-68 with 1:31 to go.

It was 86-71 with 18 seconds left, but Diarra took a shot to the nose. The refs went to the replay to check if it was hostile.

Castle finished the game with 21 points. Clingan had 18.

Sears was the game’s high scorer with 24 for Alabama.

Where it was watched

TBS broadcasted the game.

Those looking to stream it found it on the March Madness Live app, or for subscribers, on the Max app.

Radio listeners tuned to the UConn Sports Network, FOX Sports 97-9.

A watch party for students only was happened at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. Doors opened at 7:15 p.m., and tickets were required.

A similar turnout as the women’s game was anticipated on Saturday night.

“If you love basketball, it’s the place to be. I’ve been here all four years and the team has always been great all four years. I mean, obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted every year, but having a ship last year and another one this year is going to be amazing,” said Isaiah Harvey, a senior.

“I liked UConn before I was even applying for schools and I was rooting for them, so it was nice coming here and then them getting that far, it’s kind of a cool and surreal experience and I’m looking forward to the game tonight,” said Jackson Burmeister, a freshman.

For other fans, Kinsmen Brewing Company in Southington and Two Roads Brewing in Stratford held watch parties.

The road to the Final Four

While the Huskies earned double-digit wins in every NCAA Tournament game dating back to last season, the literal road to Phoenix was not without its inconveniences.

UConn’s plane had mechanical issues during the week, which delayed the team’s arrival in Arizona.

Before that though, the Huskies were unstoppable.

Their 30-0 run in the middle of their Elite Eight matchup against Illinois created quite the buzz.

Donovan Clingan finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the 77-52 win.

The Huskies pummeled the San Diego State Aztecs in the Sweet 16 on March 28, 82-52.

March 24, they beat 9th-seeded Northwestern University in the round of 32, 75-58.

They opened the tournament with a 91-52 win over Stetson University.

Alabama, meanwhile, put away sixth-seeded Clemson on Saturday night, 89-82.

What’s next

A second-straight shot at a championship.

UConn will take on No. 1 Purdue in Phoenix on Monday, April 8.

Stay with Channel 3 for continuing coverage of UConn’s trek toward a second straight national championship.