Overcoming San Diego State, UConn wins 5th NCAA title
Fred Jeter | 4/6/2023, 6 p.m.
Call it double-digit domination.
The University of Connecticut rolled through the NCAA basketball tournament without even breaking stride.
Coach Dan Hurley’s Huskies closed the deal Monday with a 76-59 rout of San Diego State at NRG Stadium in Houston.
It was 36-24 at halftime and the outcome was never in much question.
Led by Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo, UConn won its six games by an average of 20 points.
From the West Africa nation of Mali, the 6-foot-9, 245-pound junior had 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Aztecs, and averaged 20 points and 10 boards for the six games.
Tristen Newton added 19 points and 10 rebounds against San Diego, with Jordan Hawk- ins scoring 16 and Alex Karaban scoring five points, snagging five rebounds and blocking three shots.
This marks UConn’s fifth NCAA crown, following triumphs in 1999 (defeating Duke in final), 2004 (Georgia Tech), 2011 (Butler) and 2014 (Kentucky).
UCLA is the all-time NCAA champ with 11 rings, followed by Kentucky (eight), North Carolina (six) and UConn, Duke and Indiana with five each. With most of the headliners returning, the Huskies loom as a
main contender in 2024 when the Final Four moves to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
