UConn controlled this Final Four showdown from start to finish, holding off a late Illinois surge to punch their ticket to the Championship. The Huskies dominated the first half, building a commanding 37-29 halftime lead behind explosive scoring runs—a devastating 13-2 stretch that pushed them ahead 34-24. UConn's lead ballooned to 14 points, but the Illini refused to go quietly, storming back with a 10-2 run that cut it to 57-53 with under five minutes remaining. The final moments belonged entirely to UConn. Trailing 59-53, the Huskies answered with clutch plays down the stretch: Tarris Reed Jr. found the baseline for a layup, then Braylon Mullins drained a huge three-pointer from 23 feet with under a minute to play. Silas Demary Jr. iced it at the free-throw line, sealing a 71-62 victory and sending UConn to the Championship game.