Indiana native Braylon Mullins hits last-second 3 as UConn advances to Indianapolis Final Four
UConn’s season continues with dramatic Elite Eight finish
Connecticut secured a place in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis after a 73-72 win over top-seeded Duke on Sunday, March 29, decided by a last-second three-pointer from freshman guard Braylon Mullins, an Indiana native who played high school basketball at Greenfield-Central.
The winning basket came with 0.4 seconds remaining and completed a comeback from a 19-point first-half deficit. UConn had struggled from long range for much of the game, missing 18 of its first 19 three-point attempts before Mullins’ final shot swung the outcome.
How the final possession unfolded
Duke held a three-point lead in the closing seconds when UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. went to the line and made one of two free throws with about 10 seconds left. Duke then attempted to run clock on the inbound, but a pass near midcourt was deflected, creating a scramble that ended with UConn controlling the ball and setting up Mullins’ attempt from well beyond the arc.
The result sent UConn back to the national semifinals and extended a recent run of postseason success: the Huskies are making their third Final Four appearance in four seasons.
An Indiana return at the sport’s biggest stage
For Mullins, the moment carries an additional layer of significance. He will return to the Indianapolis area for the sport’s marquee weekend after growing up in Greenfield, east of the city. Mullins arrived at UConn as one of the most decorated high school players in the state in recent years, earning Indiana Mr. Basketball honors for 2025 and finishing as Greenfield-Central’s all-time leading scorer.
His freshman season has also included prominent early tests away from home, including high-profile nonconference games that positioned him for late-game responsibilities as the tournament progressed.
Final Four schedule and matchups in Indianapolis
The NCAA Men’s Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium, with semifinal games scheduled for Saturday, April 4, and the national championship game set for Monday, April 6.
Semifinal 1: Illinois vs. UConn (April 4)
Semifinal 2: Michigan vs. Arizona (April 4)
National championship: winners advance to April 6
The finish against Duke ensured that Indianapolis will host a Final Four featuring two No. 1 seeds (Arizona and Michigan) alongside UConn and Illinois.
With the tournament’s final weekend moving to downtown Indianapolis, UConn’s path to another title will now run through Lucas Oil Stadium—where Mullins, playing on the sport’s biggest stage, will do so back in his home state.