ARLINGTON, TX – Shabazz Napier led the way with 12 points and six assists as Connecticut knocked out the top overall seed Florida and advanced to Monday’s national championship game with a 63-53 victory.
DeAndre Daniels continued his impressive NCAA tournament with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies.
Florida raced out to a 16-4 lead and looked early like the dominant team that came into the game on a 30-game winning streak. But behind the veteran play of Napier, Connecticut cut into the lead and finished the first half on a 21-6 run to take a 25-22 edge into the break.
Patric Young led the Gators with 19 points. Connecticut will face the Wisconsin-Kentucky winner on Monday night.
Kevin Kugler, Bill Raftery and John Thompson called the action on WestwoodOne Sports.
(Patric Young has an emphatic block as Florida looks dominant early)
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(Scottie Wilbekin lays one in and it’s 16-4 Gators)
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(DeAndre Daniels hits a three to get UCONN within a point)
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(Niels Giffey ties the game at 20-20)
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(Shabazz Napier’s layup gives the Huskies a 23-22 lead)
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(Napier hits from deep and it’s 31-22)
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(Ryan Boatright dunks one for a 33-25 lead)
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(Daniels slams one home for Connecticut and it’s 35-27)
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(Boatright’s basket makes it 47-40)
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(Daniels gives the Huskies a 10-point lead)
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(Daniels scores again for a 57-47 lead)
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(Giffey’s dunk is the exclamation point)
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(The final call as )
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(Postgame interview with UCONN’s Shabazz Napier)
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(Postgame interview with UCONN head coach Kevin Ollie)
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(Postgame interview with Florida head coach Billy Donovan)
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