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The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is headed back to the national championship game for the third time in the last four years after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Final Four.
The Huskies, who led by as many as 14 points, fended off a late 10-0 run by Illinois to keep their championship hopes alive. Tarris Reed Jr. finished the run with a layup in the paint, then a turnover led to a Solo Ball one-handed slam.
UConn forward Jayden Ross celebrates his shot against Illinois during the first half of an NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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