For a brief moment in this game, UConn men’s basketball was reeling. Its 12-point first-half advantage had shrunk to five with 5:19 to go. After Keshad Johnson hit a pair of free throws, Jordan Hawkins hit a 3-pointer in traffic to silence the surging San Diego State crowd.
That was as close as the Aztecs would get, as the Huskies settled down and took home their fifth national championship with a 76-59 win on Monday night before 72,423 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston.
UConn seemed to be anxious early. Passes were deflecting off of hands and dribbles were loose.