(BCSNN) — In a finish that will live forever in March Madness lore, UConn erased a 19‑point deficit and won an Elite Eight classic on a 40‑foot, last‑second heave from freshman Braylon Mullins, stunning top‑seeded Duke 73–72 on Sunday night at Capital One Arena.

For 39 minutes, Mullins and senior captain Alex Karaban couldn’t buy a three. They were a combined 0‑for‑9 from deep. Then, in the final 50 seconds, they hit the two biggest shots of UConn’s season — and maybe two of the biggest in program history (if the magic continues).

Karaban drilled a clutch three with 50.5 seconds left to cut Duke’s lead to one. And with 0.4 seconds remaining, Mullins — the freshman from Indiana — stepped into a shot from the March Madness logo, nearly 40 feet away, and buried it. Nothing but net. Bedlam.

The Huskies (33–5) advance to their third Final Four in four seasons and the eighth in program history.

It was an ending so improbable, so cinematic, that even UConn’s long history of March miracles has trouble matching it.

A Comeback for the Ages

UConn trailed 44–25 late in the first half. They trailed 50–33 with 17 minutes left. They trailed 65–55 with 6:37 to go. They trailed 70–65 with under two minutes remaining.

Every time, Duke (35–3) looked ready to slam the door. Every time, UConn refused to go away.

Senior forward Tarris Reed Jr. delivered one of the greatest performances of his career, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocks. He was named East Regional Most Outstanding Player, averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds across four games.

Silas Demary Jr. added 11 points and hit two massive threes during the second‑half surge. Solo Ball and Mullins each scored 10, while Malachi Smith provided a crucial +10 in 17 minutes off the bench.

Karaban — the winningest player in UConn history — finished with just five points, but his late three and game‑saving defensive plays cemented his legend.

How Everything Played Out

Duke blitzed UConn early, hitting five first‑half threes and using a 14‑0 run to build a 40–21 lead. The Huskies went into halftime down 44–29 after a frigid 1‑for‑11 start from deep.

But UConn’s second‑half identity — pressure, physicality, relentlessness — took over.

Reed Jr. scored inside, then stole the ball and dunked. Demary Jr. hit back‑to‑back threes. Ball converted a three‑point play. Suddenly, Duke’s once‑comfortable lead was down to two.

With 50.5 seconds left, Karaban finally broke through from deep, cutting the deficit to 70–69. After Duke scored inside, Demary Jr. hit one of two free throws to make it 72–70.

Then came the play that will be replayed for decades.

Demary Jr. tipped a Duke pass loose. Mullins grabbed it, pushed ahead to Karaban, who immediately pitched it back. Mullins rose from the logo — calm, balanced, fearless — and drilled the shot of his life.

Karaban swatted away Duke’s desperation heave, and UConn completed one of the greatest Elite Eight comebacks ever.

What’s Next

UConn heads to Indianapolis to face three‑seed Illinois in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night.