Braylon Mullins: Freshman's Miracle Buzzer-Beater Sends UConn to the Final Four

 

Braylon Mullins: Freshman's Miracle Buzzer-Beater Sends UConn to the Final Four

The Biggest Drama of the 2026 NCAA Tournament


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What Happened?

On March 29, 2026, a moment destined to live forever in college basketball history was born. UConn (University of Connecticut) freshman guard Braylon Mullins hit a desperate three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining in the Elite Eight, giving UConn a stunning 73-72 comeback victory over Duke and punching the Huskies' ticket to the Final Four.

The victory is being called one of the greatest comeback wins in March Madness history, sending UConn to its third Final Four in four years.


How It Happened: From 19 Down to a Miracle

UConn trailed 44-29 at halftime, down by as many as 19 points. However, the Huskies outscored Duke 44-28 in the second half to complete a remarkable comeback.

The final moments were even more dramatic. With 10 seconds left and Duke ahead 72-70, the Blue Devils needed only to inbound the ball and hold on. UConn point guard Silas Demary Jr. hit the back end of a 1-and-1 free throw to cut the deficit to 72-71, and UConn's press defense then forced a Duke turnover.

That gave Mullins the decisive final opportunity. He received an assist from Alex Karaban and buried the game-winning three-pointer with 0.3 seconds on the clock.


Who Is Braylon Mullins?

Braylon Mullins is a UConn freshman guard who was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, a McDonald's All-American, and arrived as a five-star recruit.

Born on April 18, 2006, Mullins grew up in Greenfield, Indiana. At Greenfield-Central High School, he averaged 32.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.7 steals per game, leading his team to a 23-4 record while shooting over 47% from three-point range.

This season at UConn, Mullins has averaged 12 points per game on 43% field goal shooting, playing a key role for the Huskies.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, Mullins is widely projected as an NBA Draft lottery pick. ESPN's Jeremy Woo projects him to be selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA Draft.


Dan Hurley's Reaction

UConn head coach Dan Hurley said after the game: "He's a rare bird. His toughness is something else. To take that shot on a night when his shot wasn't falling... We promised Braylon Mullins when we recruited him that we'd take him to the Final Four in Indianapolis, and now Braylon Mullins is going back to Indiana for the Final Four!"


Duke and Cayden Boozer

Cameron Boozer scored 27 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for Duke, but it wasn't enough to hold off UConn's rally. The Blue Devils entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed with a dominant 35-2 record, but a single miraculous shot from a freshman ended their season.


What's Next

UConn will face Illinois in the Final Four next Saturday at 5:09 PM.


Sources

  • NCAA.com: https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men/2026-03-29/braylon-mullins-hits-incredible-game-winner-send-uconn-final-four
  • Wikipedia - Braylon Mullins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braylon_Mullins
  • The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/2026/03/29/march-madness-duke-uconn-score/6cf03734-2bc8-11f1-aac2-f56b5ccad184_story.html
  • Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/uconns-braylon-mullins-hits-game-winning-3-pointer-shock-duke-advance-mens-final-four
  • Heavy.com: https://heavy.com/sports/mens-college-basketball/uconn-huskies/braylon-mullins-nba-draft-lottery-pick/
  • Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/college/uconn/basketball/braylon-mullins-miraculous-shot-sends-uconn-huskies-final-four
  • USA Today High School Sports: https://eu.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/2026/03/29/braylon-mullins-shot-duke-ncaa-tournament-uconn/89380616007/

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