No. 4 UConn gets 83-71 win over No. 16 Michigan in national championship rematch

· Yahoo Sports

Friday’s meeting between No. 16 Michigan and No. 4 UConn appeared to be a rematch of last season’s NCAA tournament national championship game, a 69-63 win for the Wolverines.

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However, two different teams took the floor at Boston’s TD Garden, presumably a neutral-site game but with a very pro-Huskies crowd cheering UConn on to an 85-77 win in the championship game rematch.

Braylon Mullins led the Huskies with 23 points, knocking down three 3-pointers and hitting 10 of 11 free throws. Silas Demary Jr. followed with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Both players found some redemption after combining for 13 points in the national title game defeat.

Michigan featured an almost entirely new squad with Mike Boynton Jr. taking over as head coach after Dusty May left for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Stars Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara moved on to the pros as well, all three among the top 12 selections in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Though UConn lost Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr., while Solo Ball is out for the season after wrist surgery, the Huskies looked like the more assured team with players knowing their roles. By comparison, Michigan appeared to be in search of its identity with returning veterans attempting to lead while new pieces figure out how they fit together.

Both teams started quickly from the opening tip with new Wolverines center Moustapha Thiam dunking a lob from Eliot Cadeau, followed by Braylon Mullins drilling a 3-pointer for UConn.

The Huskies then ran out to an early lead with Mullins and Demary hitting shots from behind the arc, while Michigan’s only source of offense was Cadeau. Demary stayed hot, scoring 5 points during a 10-6 surge that put UConn ahead by 7 points.

Michigan had an opportunity to close within one point when the UConn bench was called for a technical foul after objecting when the Wolverines’ J.P. Estrella drew a foul on an offensive rebound. But Trey McKinney missed both of the technical foul free throws, and Estrella only made one of his two foul shots.

Knowing Michigan squandered a good chance, the Huskies fans got louder.

UConn closed the first half with an 11-2 run capped by a Colton Landrew pull-up 3-pointer that sent the Huskies into halftime with a 43-30 advantage. That lead built to 18 points five minutes into the second half.

Then McKinney helped Michigan chip away at the deficit with his 3-point shot. His third 3 of the game cut UConn’s lead to 64-55 with 9:25 remaining.

However, the Huskies outscored the Wolverines 11-6 over the next four minutes to rebuild their advantage to 16 points. UConn’s depth allowed head coach Dan Hurley to go at least three deep into the bench and get impactful minutes. Landrew finished with 14 points.

Meanwhile, Boynton was looking for answers from his reserves and couldn’t find any for now. Michigan only got 8 points from its bench.

McKinney scored 22 points for the Wolverines, shooting 4-for-9 from long range. Estrella added 19 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 6-of-7 from the floor and 7-for-8 on free throws. Roddy Gayle Jr. followed with 18 points and 3 steals.

UConn (2-0) next hosts Wagner on Monday. Michigan (1-1) is off until Wednesday, when Marquette visits Ann Arbor.

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