Michigan defeats UConn to win second national title in 37 years, reclaims NCAA throne [Video]

Elliot Cadeau scored a team-high 19 points in the NCAA championship game, including the team's first three-pointer in the second half at 7 minutes and 4 seconds. The second three-pointer was made by freshman Trey McKenney with 1 minute and 50 seconds left, a dagger that gave Michigan a 9-point lead.

Unsurprisingly, Connecticut fought until the last moment—Solo Ball made a bank shot three-pointer with 37 seconds left, narrowing the gap to 4 points. Michigan then missed two free throws, and UConn's Alex Karaban attempted a three-pointer with only 17 seconds remaining; if it had gone in, the difference would have been just 1 point, but unfortunately, the ball only grazed the rim.

It wasn't until McKenney made both of his free throws, bringing the team's free-throw record to 25-for-28, that Michigan officially began its celebration.

Overall, both teams played an unpolished game, even with a retro, physical feel reminiscent of the 1950s. Michigan struggled for every point, missing all 11 of their initial three-point attempts and ultimately shooting only 2-for-15 from beyond the arc. Additionally, star player Yaxel Lendeborg was in poor form, hampered by knee and foot injuries that prevented him from jumping normally, scoring only 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

UConn had hoped to become the first team since the UCLA dynasty led by legendary coach John Wooden to win three championships in four seasons, but ultimately failed due to severe foul trouble and dismal shooting percentages.

Coach Dan Hurley's UConn team shot only 30.9% from the field, and missed all 11 of their initial three-point attempts in the second half. Braylon Mullins, who helped the team defeat Duke to reach the Final Four, shot only 4-for-17 in this game, though he made two three-pointers late in the game to keep his team in contention.

Michigan University had previously scored over 90 points in five consecutive games, winning each by a large margin. Although their score did not reach 70 in this game, it was in many ways their most spectacular victory; it earned the team something even the most famous "Fab Five" in Michigan's history never achieved: a national championship. (Compiled by: Cheng Shih-yun) 1150407