BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS: UConn defeats Purdue

PHOENIX, AZ (WFSB) - The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team won back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles.

The top-seeded Huskies took on top-seeded Purdue in the championship game Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.

The final score was 75-60.

The victory made UConn the first team to win two championships in a row since the University of Florida did it in 2006 and 2007. It was also the Huskies’ sixth championship.

Tristen Newton won the most outstanding player award.

Tip off happened at 9:20 p.m.

Purdue got the first basket, courtesy of Trey Kaufman-Renn.

UConn’s Cam Spencer answered with a three; however, Purdue’s Lance Jones hit back with an and-one. The score was 5-3, Purdue.

With 16:44 to go in the half, the score was tied 7-7.

A Spencer bucket put UConn up 11-9 with about 15 minutes to go.

Though a Newton 3 put UConn up 14-11, Purdue’s Zach Edey had two denials under the Huskies’ basket.

Edey did most of the scoring for the Boilermakers. He had 11 points with about 12 minutes left in the half.

Before the first media timeout, Hassan Diarra scored on a cut. UConn led 18-16 with 11:28 until halftime.

However, Donovan Clingan went to the bench with one foul. That left briefly 7′4″ Edey without an equal on the court.

Diarra nailed a three to put UConn up 21-18.

However, an Edey free-throw and a Braden Smith bucket tied the game again.

At the second media time out, the score was even at 23 with 6:50 left.

Clingan had an and-one to break the tie. It was 26-23.

A Newton layup made it 30-25 with less than 5 minutes to go. It was part of a 9-2 Husky run.

Baskets were exchanged with about 3 minutes to go in the half.

UConn’s lead was only 2 with about 2 minutes left until halftime.

At the half, UConn led 36-30. Newton had 11 points for UConn. Edey had 16 for Purdue.

Newton opened the half with a three.

With about 16 minutes to go in the game, UConn was up 43-34. However, Clingan picked up a third foul.

UConn went up by 13 points on a couple of Samson Johnson slams with about 14 minutes to go.

However, Johnson picked up his fourth foul at the 13:39 mark.

An acrobatic layup from Newton gave the Huskies a 51-38 lead with 11:21 left in the game.

An Alex Karaban three and a Diarra layup gave UConn its largest lead, 56-40, with 9:27 to go.

Stephon Castle canned a three with about 8:30 to go.

Shortly after that, Clingan picked up his fourth foul.

With less than 5 minutes to go, it was all UConn 65-49.

Newton canned some free throws to put UConn up 18.

The Boilermakers wouldn’t go quietly though. Edey muscled his way to a bucket to make it 67-52 with about 3 minutes to go. Then, Jones made it a 13 point game.

It remained a 13 point game with about 90 seconds to go. Castle was at the line at that point for a pair of free throws.

However, Edey came back with a dunk.

Clingan put it away with about 44 seconds to go.

Newton scored a team high 20 points. He also dished out 7 assists. Clingan finished with 11 points.

Edey had 37 points for Purdue.

How it was watched

TBS broadcasted the game.

Streamers found it for free on the NCAA March Madness Live App. It was also on the Max app, but a subscription was necessary.

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

Watch parties were planned throughout the state.

A massive viewing party took place on Pratt Street in Hartford. The game was shown on giant LED screens.

Vaughn’s Irish Public House, Sunberry Restaurant & Bar, Sorella, and Urban Lodge Brewing served a selection of food and drinks.

Also, In Storrs, UConn students prepared for their on-campus watch party at Gampel Pavilion.

A big screen was set up inside the arena.

Organizers opened the doors of Gampel at 7:30 p.m. The event was only for students.

No re-entry was allowed. Concession stands opened during the watch party; however, alcohol sales were not available.

For non-student fans, watch parties were also planned at Kinsmen Brewing in Southington and Two Roads Brewing in Stratford.

How they got there

The Huskies went through a final shoot-around and a few film sessions on Monday ahead of the game against the Boilermakers and 7′4″ center Zach Edey.

“We are probably more confident than most teams because we have a 7-2 center of our own,” said Cam Spencer, UConn guard. “Donovan [Clingan] is as good a rim protector as there is. So playing against him everyday gets us prepared to play Zach Edey as well.”

UConn coach Dan Hurley said he and his team felt ready and honored to play Purdue.

“It’s a privilege because of what they stand for and how they good they are, so to be able to play Purdue, and how they are, and how [coach Matt Painter] Runs things, it’s a real privilege to play them for the championship,” Hurley said.

A team sendoff happened in Phoenix at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix at 3:45 p.m. on Monday.

Alabama was a test in the Final Four on Saturday night.

UConn couldn’t put any distance between them and the Crimson Tide until late in the game. The Huskies won 86-72.

In the Elite Eight the week before, a 30-0 run in the middle of their 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.

Purdue, meanwhile, defeated No. 11 NC State 63-50 in its Final Four matchup.