UConn defeats Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tarris Reed Jr. has 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead UConn, while 2025 Indiana Mr. Basketball Braylon Mullins scores 15 points, including 4-of-7 3-point shooting.
Solo Ball scores 13 points and Alex Karaban 9 for UConn, which makes 12 3s.
The Huskies — who won the 2023 and ’24 national titles — meet the winner of the later game between Michigan and Arizona on Monday night, April 6, for the national championship.
Keaton Wagler scores 20 points with 8 rebounds, and Tomislav Ivisic has 16 points and 7 rebounds for Illinois, which makes just 6-of-26 3-pointers.
We will have score updates and highlights throughout, so remember to refresh for the latest.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: Braylon Mullins, Keaton Wagler trade late 3-pointers
UConn 66, Illinois 62, :43 left 2H: Keaton Wagler and Braylon Mullins hit last-minute 3s.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois
UConn 61, Illinois 56, 2:46 left 2H: Ben Humrichous hits a 3 for Illinois. Tarris Reed Jr.’s first basket of the second half at the 4:38 mark stops a 10-0 Illinois run.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: Illinois narrows deficit vs. UConn
UConn 57, Illinois 51, 6:08 left 2H: UConn hasn’t scored since Jaylin Stewart 3 at the 9:44 mark.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois
UConn 57, Illinois 49, 8:00 left 2H: Illinois scores 6 straight points. Jaylin Stewart extends UConn’s lead to 14 points with a 3-pointer.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois
UConn 52, Illinois 42, 11:49 left 2H: UConn has a 10-4 edge in 3-pointers, and commits its first turnover more than 26 minutes in. The Huskies lead by as many as 13 points.
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois
UConn 47, Illinois 36, 15:32 left 2H: UConn’s Alex Karaban is getting more involved and has 7 points. Keaton Wagler scores a couple of early baskets for Illinois. The Illini’s David Mirkovic has 5 points and 3 fouls.
NCAA Final Four photos of Illinois vs. UConn
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois at halftime
UConn 37, Illinois 29, halftime: Braylon Mullins has 12 points (3-of-5 3-pointers) and Tarris Reed Jr. 11 for UConn. Solo Ball and Alex Karaban make late 3-pointers to push UConn’s lead to double figures.
Keaton Wagler has 10 points with 6 rebounds and Tomislav Ivisic 8 points for the Illini (34% shooting, 3-of-14 3-pointers).
NCAA Final Four score tonight: UConn leads Illinois
UConn 28, Illinois 24, 3:05 left 1H: Tarris Reed Jr. has 11 points and Braylon Mullins 9 for UConn. Illinois has 0 assists on 8 baskets. The first turnover of the game, by Illinois, comes almost 16 minutes in.
Illinois score tonight vs. UConn in NCAA Final Four
Illinois 22, UConn 21, 6:25 left 1H: Tomislav Ivisic gives Illinois its first lead with a 3-pointer. Keaton Wagler gets Illinois’ first made 3 after 6 misses. Illinois is in the bonus at the 10:24 mark.
Illinois score tonight vs. UConn in NCAA Final Four
UConn 18, Illinois 12, 11:25 left 1H: UConn has 3 made 3-pointers, Illinois 0. No turnovers have been committed.
UConn score tonight vs. Illinois in NCAA Final Four: Tarris Reed Jr. goes to work for Huskies
UConn 18, Illinois 9, 13:20 left 1H: Tarris Reed Jr. leads the Huskies with 7 points and 4 rebounds. Timeout, Illinois.
Braylon Mullins begins scoring for UConn vs. Illinois in NCAA Final Four
UConn 10, Illinois 7, 15:39 left 1H: Braylon Mullins of Greenfield-Central hits a 3-pointer at the 18:23 mark to open the scoring and adds another at the 17:00 mark. However, he is denied on an attempted dunk.
What time does Connecticut basketball play Illinois in the Final Four of March Madness on Saturday, April 4? Start time for Illinois-UConn game in NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 4
The Connecticut Huskies and Illinois Fighting Illini play at 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
What channel is the Illinois vs. UConn game on Saturday, April 4? Where to watch UConn basketball play Illinois in the Final Four of March Madness on Saturday, April 4
The Connecticut Huskies and Illinois Fighting Illini game will air on TBS at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4.
Watch NCAA tournament action on Sling
How to stream Illinois-Connecticut game Saturday, April 4. Where to watch UConn-Illinois March Madness 2026 NCAA tournament game live
The Connecticut Huskies and Illinois Fighting Illini will stream on SlingTV at 6:09 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 4, 2026. Fans can download SlingTV in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
Watch NCAA tournament action with a free Fubo trial
Illinois players make a homecoming at the Final Four
Jake Davis, a Cathedral High School graduate, frequently starts and averages 5.4 points per game, making 40.9% of his 3-pointers. Ben Humrichous, a Tipton High School grad who also attended Huntington and Evansville universities, adds 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Braylon Mullins returns to Indiana as a UConn basketball hero
Braylon Mullins, the 2025 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Greenfield-Central High School, is Connecticut’s fourth-leading scorer at 11.9 points per game. He has struggled from 3-point range during the NCAA Tournament (5-of-24), but his last-second 40-footer beat Duke to send the Huskies to the Final Four.
Illinois 2026 NCAA Tournament results
UConn 2026 NCAA Tournament results
Who are Illinois’ best players?
Illinois basketball roster 2026
Who are UConn’s best players?
Connecticut basketball roster 2026
Coach Dan Hurley is looking for his third national championship in four years
Dan Hurley is the always-animated eighth-year coach who guided the Huskies to national championships in 2023 and ’24. He previously coached two years at Wagner and six at Rhode Island. His brother, Bobby Hurley, was the previous NCAA career assists record-holder before Purdue’s Braden Smith surpassed him this year. Bobby Hurley has coached Buffalo and Arizona State.
Coach Brad Underwood brings Illinois back after a long Final Four absence
Brad Underwood is in his ninth season with Illinois, owning a 193-109 record and bringing the Illini back to the Final Four since 2005. He also coached in the junior college ranks, and at Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Illinois basketball vs UConn recap in Final Four: Mullins helps Huskies reach championship game
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
