UConn Freshman Hits 35-Footer to Complete Historic Comeback

Thirty-six years of waiting ended in three seconds of pure magic.

UConn freshman Braylon Mullins stole the ball and launched a logo three-pointer from 35 feet out, sinking the shot with less than a second remaining to defeat Duke 73-72 in Sunday's Elite Eight. The impossible comeback sent the Huskies to the Final Four in Indianapolis for the third time in four years.

Duke had dominated the first half, building what seemed like an insurmountable 19-point lead. No. 1 seeds had been 134-0 when leading by 15 or more at halftime in tournament history. The Blue Devils looked unstoppable behind National Player of the Year frontrunner Cameron Boozer, who finished with 27 points in his final college game.

But UConn refused to give up. Tarris Reed Jr. poured in 26 points to keep the Huskies within striking distance. The defense tightened in the second half, forcing Duke into uncomfortable possessions and turning 13 turnovers into 20 points.

The Huskies struggled from beyond the arc for most of the game, missing 17 of their first 18 three-point attempts. Then everything changed in the final seven minutes when they hit four of their last five threes.

Veteran Alex Karaban, the winningest player in UConn history, had missed his first five three-pointers but buried a crucial one to cut the lead to just one point with 50 seconds left. The comeback was nearly complete, but Duke still held the ball and the lead.

That's when Mullins made his defensive play, intercepting Cayden Boozer's pass over a trap. The freshman from Greenfield, Indiana grabbed the loose ball and, without hesitation, pulled up from 35 feet.

Why This Inspires

Mullins' shot represents everything beautiful about sports: the perfect intersection of preparation, opportunity, and courage. A freshman, in the biggest moment of his young career, had the confidence to take and make the longest of long shots.

His teammates never stopped believing either. UConn committed just one turnover in the entire second half and shot 53% from the field after halftime, showing remarkable composure under pressure.

The fact that an Indiana kid is sending his team to Indianapolis for the Final Four only adds to the storybook ending. Sometimes the hero emerges from the most unexpected place at exactly the right moment.

UConn heads to the Final Four having just pulled off the biggest Elite Eight comeback in NCAA tournament history against the overall No. 1 seed, proving that no lead is safe when you refuse to quit.