Connecticut routs San Diego State to win its fifth NCAA men’s basketball title after dominating tournament | CNN

UConn Wins Fifth NCAA Men's Basketball Title with Dominant Performance Over San Diego State

The University of Connecticut has secured its fifth men's basketball national title, defeating San Diego State University 76-59 in the championship game. This victory marks UConn's sixth overall title since 1999, cementing the school's status as one of the most successful programs in college basketball history.

Senior guard Tristen Newton led the Huskies with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Adama Sanogo chipped in with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The duo's dominance on the court was a key factor in UConn's decisive win.

In a statement to CBS following the game, head coach Dan Hurley credited his team's confidence, garnered during the regular season, as a major factor in their success. "We knew the level that we could play at, even through those dark times," he said. "We battled back and gave ourselves a chance with our second-half comeback."

San Diego State, which had been looking to pull off an upset, struggled to contain UConn's offense. The Aztecs were undone by an 11-minute, eight-second stretch in which they scored just five free throws and missed 12 consecutive shots from the field.

"We battled back to five in the second half, but gave them too much separation," San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. "We had to be at our best. We weren’t at our best."

Despite a strong performance by senior guards Adam Seiko and Matt Bradley, who each scored 10 points, UConn's depth and variety of scoring options ultimately proved to be too much for the Aztecs.

With this victory, UConn joins an elite group of programs that have won five or more NCAA men's basketball championships. The school's women's teams, meanwhile, have secured 11 national titles, further solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse program in college basketball.

The Huskies' win marks a special moment for the team and its fans, particularly for Jordan Hawkins, who scored 16 points in the championship game and will soon celebrate the achievement of his cousin, Angel Reese, who won the women's title earlier this week. "It's absolutely amazing that we both get this opportunity," Hawkins said. "The family reunion is going to be great."
 
OMG, congrats to UConn for winning that 5th NCAA men's basketball title! 🏆 Their win was total domination over San Diego State, and those senior guards Tristen Newton & Adama Sanogo are straight fire 🔥. Coach Dan Hurley's team confidence is key, but I'm surprised they didn't struggle more against the Aztecs' defense... I mean, that 11-minute stretch where SD State scored just 5 free throws? 😲 What was going on there?! 🤯
 
omg can't believe uconn won again! 🤩 they really are a dynasty, 5 titles and counting. i love how tristen newton and adama sanogo stepped up their game in the championship. those two were unstoppable on the court! 🏀 dan hurley's confidence talk makes sense tho, the team did have that fire throughout the regular season. sad for sdsu tho, they just couldn't keep up with uconn's speed and depth. still proud of those aztecs for giving it a shot though 😊
 
UConn is literally on top of their game right now 🤩🏆 and I am SO HERE FOR IT!!! They've been grinding for years and it's finally paying off in the biggest way possible 💪 Their team chemistry is insane, everyone brings their A-game and that San Diego State team just couldn't keep up 🤯 I mean, come on, 11 minutes without a single point from the field? That's just embarrassing 😂 And to see Jordan Hawkins get all teary-eyed about his cousin Angel winning the women's title... it's like, these people are basically superheroes 💕 Their coach Dan Hurley is so smart, giving credit where credit is due and being humble at the same time 🙏 But let's be real, this team is on a whole other level right now 🔥 And can we talk about UConn's record-breaking 11 national titles? That's just MIND-BLOWING 💥
 
the idea of a team coming together and achieving greatness is so inspiring, but it also makes me think about how we measure success in life 🤔. is it just about winning championships or titles? do we need to define ourselves by our achievements, or can we find fulfillment in the journey itself? i mean, uconn's players had an amazing season, but what about the people they've lost along the way? the ones who didn't make the cut, who got hurt, who struggled to keep up? how do we balance the desire for success with the importance of perseverance and humility?

and then there's the question of legacy 🕰️. will uconn's title be remembered as a singular achievement or as part of a longer story of growth and development? what about the next generation of players, coaches, and fans who'll build upon this momentum? is it selfish to focus on our own accomplishments, or do we need to prioritize the greater good? 🤷‍♂️
 
🏆 oh man I'm so hyped for UConn! They totally dominated San Diego State and it was a great team effort. Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo were on fire 🔥, and their chemistry on the court is insane. It's amazing how much confidence coach Dan Hurley instilled in his team during the regular season - it really paid off in the end! 😅 I'm loving Jordan Hawkins' reaction about his cousin Angel Reese winning the women's title too... what a special moment for the family 🤩
 
👏 finally a decent team takes home the trophy. UConn's depth and variety of scoring options was way too much for San Diego State 🤯. And honestly, it's about time someone other than Duke or Kentucky wins it all 🙄. Can't wait to see what Jordan Hawkins does next 👀
 
Yaaas, Huskies are on fire! 🚀 They totally dominated San Diego State and I'm loving the team's confidence and chemistry. Dan Hurley's got it right - those dark times during the regular season really paid off. Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo were unstoppable on the court, and that second-half comeback was clutch 🔥. UConn's depth is insane - they've got so many talented players, it's hard for opponents to keep up 🤯. Congrats to Coach Hurley and the whole Huskies squad - this win cements their spot as one of the greatest programs in college hoops history 💪
 
🤩 UConn's fifth NCAA men's basketball title is a huge deal! I mean, those guys are on fire 🔥! Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo's chemistry on the court was pure magic ✨. And can we talk about Coach Hurley's confidence boost after that regular season? It's like they knew all along they were gonna crush it 💪. San Diego State was no match for UConn's depth, but I gotta say, their Aztecs' comeback attempt had me on the edge of my seat 😱. All in all, this win cements UConn's status as one of the greatest programs in college hoops history 🏆. And let's not forget Jordan Hawkins and Angel Reese, who're basically living their best lives right now 🤩💕
 
omg uconn finally did it! 🎉🏆 theyve been on a roll since 1999 and its awesome to see them bring home their fifth title. tristen newton and adama sanogo were straight fire 🔥 on the court, i love how dan hurley credits his team's confidence from the regular season as the key to this win. uconn's depth is insane, they just keep churning out talented players like jordan hawkins and angel reese 👏
 
OMG u guys UConn just won its 5th NCAA men's basketball title 🤩🏆 I'm so hyped for them! Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo were ON FIRE 🔥🔴 their chemistry on the court was everything. And that comeback in the second half? Wow, what a game 🙌 Coach Dan Hurley said it all - they knew they could play at that level, even when things seemed tough 🤞. San Diego State just couldn't contain them 😅. I'm loving this Huskies family reunion 💕 can't wait to see the celebration 👏
 
omg uConn is literally a dynasty right now 🤯 they got their 5th title and i'm low-key impressed that they didn't choke in the second half like some other teams have in the past lol. i mean san diego state was there for a hot sec, but uconn's depth is just on another level 💪 gotta give it to them, they're living their best lives right now 🤷‍♀️
 
omg uconn is literally on fire 🚀 they're like the dynasty queens of college hoops 🤷‍♀️ 6 titles since 1999? insane! dan hurley's confidence talk makes so much sense tho, i mean if you know your team can hang with the big dogs, then you're already halfway to winning it all 🏆 san diego state got exposed though, those aztecs just couldn't keep up 💥
 
man i'm so happy for uconn 🎉 they worked so hard and it paid off! i love how they had a strong team effort with multiple players scoring big points. it's also cool that the coach mentioned their confidence from the regular season was key to their success 🤔 i don't know about basketball rules but it looks like uconn just dominated on the court and that was enough to win 💪
 
🤩 UConn's 5th NCAA men's basketball title is a huge deal! I mean, they're basically the kings of college hoops now 🏆. Their depth and variety of scoring options really paid off against San Diego State. It's crazy how much difference it makes when you have multiple players who can step up on any given night. Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo were on fire! 🔥 And can we talk about Jordan Hawkins' excitement? The family reunion vibes are real 🎉👪. It's moments like these that make us proud of our university's commitment to excellence in sports.
 
🤩 UConn's win is literally the ultimate validation of all their hard work throughout the season! I mean, to see Tristen Newton and Adama Sanogo just dominate on the court is a dream come true for any basketball fan 🏀💪. And can we talk about Dan Hurley's confidence boost during the regular season? That's some genius coaching right there 🔥👍. San Diego State put up a good fight, but you gotta give it to UConn - they just outplayed and outcoached them 😎. The family reunion is going to be SO lit with Jordan Hawkins celebrating alongside his cousin Angel Reese 🎉💕! This team's got heart, talent, and an unbeatable squad chemistry 💖. Can't wait to see what they do next 👀🔜
 
UConn's got some serious bragging rights now 🏆🔥 I mean, five NCAA titles? That's insane! They must've been putting in the work for years to build a program like that. And to see their depth and scoring options shine through on the biggest stage? Unstoppable 💪 Those San Diego State Aztecs had their hearts in it, but just couldn't keep up with UConn's firepower 🚫 11-minute drought is pretty embarrassing, btw 😳 Great job to Dan Hurley and the Huskies squad! 👏
 
omg what a crazy comeback 🤯 uconn's 2nd half was like a whole different team 👏 tristen newton and adama sanogo are straight fire 🔥 coach dan hurley should get that ncaa coach of the year award already 🙌
 
lol what a joke how many times does uconn have to win an ncaa championship before it's just expected lol? like 5 titles and they're still trying to spin it as some kinda achievement 🤷‍♂️. i mean the dude in the game is like 17 years old but he's getting more mins than half the team... priorities, coach, priorities 🚫. anyway, congrats uconn, can't wait for your next title 😒
 
omg uconn just crushed it!!! 🤩🏆 i'm not surprised though, they've been on fire all season! dan hurley must be so proud of his team for staying confident and coming back strong in the 2nd half. san diego state just couldn't keep up with the huskies' offense... and can we talk about tristen newton's stats? 19 points and 10 rebounds?! 🤯 anyway, congrats to uconn on their 5th title - you're definitely one of the best programs in college basketball! 💪
 
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