UConn dominates San Diego State in national championship
Alex Karaban #11 of the Connecticut Huskies and teammates celebrate a three-point basket at the end of the first half against the Miami Hurricanes on April 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - UConn topped off an impressive March Madness run on Monday night, clamping down early and breaking it open late to bring home its fifth national title with a 76-59 victory over San Diego State.
Adama Sanogo had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Tristen Newton also had a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards for the Huskies (31-8), who became the fifth team since the bracket expanded in 1985 to win all six NCAA Tournament games by double-digits on the way to a championship.
UConn built a 16-point lead late in the first half, only to see the Aztecs (32-7) trim the lead to five with 5:19 left. Bur Jordan Hawkins (xx points) answered with a 3 to trigger a 9-0 run and the only drama left was whether UConn would cover the 7 1/2-point spread and go 6-for-6 with double-digit wins.
Keshad Johnson had 14 points for San Diego State, which came up one win shy in this, its first trip to the Final Four.