Michigan defeats UConn 69-63 to win first men's NCAA basketball title since 1989

Michigan has become the first Big Ten Conference team since Michigan State in 2000 to win the men's basketball national championship.

In its history, UConn had been 6-0 in title games until tonight, when Michigan dealt the Huskies their first loss on this stage.

Michigan survives a last-minute scare and wins the men’s national championship game 69-63.

UConn’s appeal of a flagrant foul was unsuccessful.

UConn has made big shots all tournament.

Solo Ball banks in a three and it’s now a 67-63 Michigan lead with 37 seconds to go!

The UConn guard finishes with only 2 points in 21 minutes.

A five-point swing has put Michigan in the driver's seat for a national title.

After Connecticut's Tarris Reed Jr. stole a pass with 2:06 to play, UConn was trailing 62-56 and had a chance to cut its deficit to just four points. But Solo Ball's layup was challenged hard and missed, and Michigan went right back down the court and made a 3-pointer by Trey McKenney. It was McKenney's only second made shot of the night, on his ninth attempt, but pushed the lead to 65-56 and gave Michigan breathing room.

After an Alex Karaban 3 cut the deficit to 6, Michigan’s Trey McKinney answered with a 3 of his own. The Wolverines lead 65-56 with 1:49 to go.

Michigan leads 62-53 with 2:45 to go. It’s getting late for the Huskies...

The Huskies trail 60-51 with 4:13 left after two more Michigan free throws. The Huskies desperately need to string together a run here.

The Wolverines have built a 56-48 lead with six minutes to play in regulation because although they have struggled mightily to make their 3-pointers — making just 1-of-14 — they've compensated at the free-throw line.

Michigan is now 17-for-18 from the line, a sizable advantage over UConn (6-of-10).

All-time, the Huskies are 13-1 when playing in the national semifinals and final, the best winning percentage (.929) in NCAA history.

The action has picked up as we get into the homestretch.

The Wolverines lead by 7 with 7:16 left in the second half.

Michigan's Johnson Jr. has grabbed five offensive rebounds — equal to the game-high shared by Tarris Reed Jr. — including a put-back layup that gave Johnson 12 points for the night. Johnson also has two blocks.

The Michigan crowd exploded after Cadeau’s 3-pointer, giving Michigan an 11- point lead. Wolverines fans stayed on their feet the entire time out, clearly feeling confident with 12:47 left to go.

In all five of their NCAA tournament wins Michigan has made at least 10 3-pointers, which makes their 11-point lead all the more remarkable tonight. The Wolverines just made their first 3-pointer of the game after missing their first 10.

Michigan just hit its first 3-pointer of the night — courtesy of Elliot Cadeau — and now the Wolverines have their biggest lead of the game at 48-37.

There’s 12:47 left in the second half.

UConn is up to 9 turnovers, compared to only 5 for Michigan.

The Wolverines somehow have no points off the turnovers, but the Huskies losing chances to get shots on goal.

The Wolverines are winning the second half 7-4, and have a chance to take their biggest lead of the night when Yaxel Lendeborg goes to the free throw line for one shot after the break.

Michigan’s physicality is becoming an issue for the Huskies, as the Wolverines are about to attempt their 16th free throw of the night.

UConn's Solo Ball now has four fouls after an and-one call that allowed Michigan's Elliott Cadeau to get a three-point play and extend Michigan's lead to 38-31. He's not the only Husky in foul trouble, with Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr. both playing with three fouls.

The Huskies has been called for 15 fouls compared to six for Michigan.

The Wolverines have a 7-point lead after a sweet and-1 by Elliot Cadeau, who is now up to 10 points.

That’s Michigan’s largest lead of the night.

Michigan is at the line 29 seconds in with a 33-29 lead.

Easy points in transition were hard to come by during a first half in which Connecticut and Michigan combined for zero fast-break points.

It's just one offensive category, but it's also emblematic of the difficulties Michigan has faced in getting its offense going.

The Huskies are dominating from deep — they’ve hit 5-of-15 from 3-point range compared to 0-of-8 for the Wolverines. Despite the 15-point advantage from beyond the arc, UConn trails.

How is Michigan in front? The Wolverines have an advantage in free throw attempts (12 to 6) and have limited their turnovers, coughing the ball up only twice.

The teams are virtually even in rebounds: Michigan has 21, UConn has 20.

Michigan ended the first half on a 10-4 run to take a four-point lead into the break.

The Wolverines’ Morez Johnson Jr. leads all scorers with 10 points, while Solo Ball and Alex Karaban each have 8 for the Huskies.

The same conference hasn't swept the national championships in football and men's and women's basketball in the same season since 2007, when Florida (football and men's basketball) and Tennessee (women's basketball) led a year of SEC dominance.

The Big Ten could match that feat tonight after Indiana won the football crown and UCLA claimed the women's basketball championship yesterday. Will conference realignment, with expanded conferences, lead to this happening more often?

A Big Ten men's basketball team hasn't won a national title since 2000.

Alex Karaban was called for a hook and hold, giving Michigan two free throws and the ball. The Wolverines took advantage with a 4-point possession, and after another stop and score. Michigan now leads 29-25.

Alex Karaban leads the Huskies with 8 points, while Morez Johnson Jr. leads the Wolverines with 8 of his own.

Michigan is shooting only 32%, while UConn is shooting a relatively blistering 38% by comparison.

Lendeborg was the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year and Michigan’s leading scorer this season, but he has scored only 2 points so far in the first half. Lendeborg is 0-2 from the field, with his points coming on two free throws.

Lendeborg is playing with a bevy of injuries, including a sprained ankle suffered in the semifinal.

Braylon Mullins, the hero of UConn's Elite Eight win over Duke, started 0-for-4 from the field but is now finally on the board, with his 3-pointer putting Connecticut ahead, 23-21.

If it sounds like a Michigan home game on the TV broadcast, that’s because it feels like one inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The overwhelming majority of the crowd is here to support the Wolverines.

But that’s not to say UConn is alone… a strong contingency of Huskies are here, especially considering that 14-hour drive from Storrs.

UConn is 3 of 8 from deep so far in the first half, while Michigan has yet to hit a shot from beyond the arc.

The Huskies have the outside advantage despite Braylon Mullins not connecting on any of his three 3-point attempts.

UConn has a slim 18-17 lead with 7 minutes left in the first half.

Scoring has been a struggle, as both teams are currently shooting under 40%.

Connecticut's Alex Karaban, a member of the 2023 and 2024 NCAA championship teams, is a rarity in an era when transferring, sometimes multiple times, is normal. And why would Karaban leave? UConn kept winning, and he was integral to it.

He is one of just three players in NCAA Division I history with at least 1,850 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists, 250 made 3-pointers, 100 blocks and 100 steals, according to UConn.

After Michigan took a 9-4 lead, the Huskies have been on a 6-2 run, cutting the deficit to 11-10.

UConn will have a chance to go ahead after the under-12 timeout, when Jayden Ross will go to the free throw line for two shots.

Michigan has been in control early, a lead exemplified by Roddy Gayle Jr.'s block in the first minutes.

Michigan's height will pose a challenge for UConn, and the rebounding battle could be a proxy for who wins the game. UConn this season is 25-2 when it grabs more rebounds than its opponents and 9-3 when being outrebounded.

A little over 4 minutes into the first half, the Wolverines lead 9-4.

Elliot Cadeau (5) and Morez Johnson Jr. (4) have combined for all of Michigan’s points.

The national title game has tipped off!

A Michigan program has made many national title games but won just once will meet its opposite tonight. Connecticut is a perfect 6-for-6 when playing in the NCAA men's title game.

2024: The Huskies beat Purdue, 75-60, to become the first team since Florida in 2006-07 to win consecutive titles.

2023: Connecticut cruises past San Diego State, 76-59.

2014: Under coach Kevin Ollie, the Huskies edged past Kentucky, 60-54, in Arlington, Texas.

2011: The last national title of coach Jim Calhoun's career came in a 53-41 win against Butler.

2004: The Huskies finished 33-6 while closing out Georgia Tech, 82-73.

1999: It all started with UConn's stunning upset of favored Duke, 77-74.

Coming out of high school, in Greenfield, Indiana, Braylon Mullins was a five-star recruit, the "Mr. Basketball" winner in the state. He chose to go to UConn, and now, at the end of his freshman year, the Huskies are playing for a national title in Indianapolis, about 30 minutes from Mullins' hometown.

Mullins played a big part in them getting there, too. He hit the miracle, last-second 3-pointer to upset Duke in the Elite Eight. Then in the Final Four, he shot 4-of-7 from 3-point range and scored 15 points to help beat Illinois.

What will he do tonight against Michigan? All of Indiana will be curious to find out.

This is the Wolverines' eighth appearance in the national championship, but their record in the game is 1-6 all time. Michigan might not be to blame. It has lost to some of the greatest figures in college basketball history. Here's what happened in the school's previous trips:

--2018: Michigan loses to the Villanova Wildcats, whose roster included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Donte DiVincenzo.

--2013: Michigan loses to the Louisville Cardinals, as coach Rick Pitino wins his second national title, which would later be vacated by the NCAA.

--1993: Michigan's "Fab Five" team loses to North Carolina.

--1992: Michigan's "Fab Five" team loses to Duke.

--1989: Michigan beats Seton Hall to win the program's only title.

--1976: Michigan loses to Bob Knight's undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.

--1965: Michigan loses to John Wooden's UCLA Bruins. This was the second of 10 championships Wooden would win at UCLA.

Tarris Reed Jr. of Connecticut has often been vital for the Huskies during the NCAA tournament with his size, scoring and rebounding. There's just one opponent left between Reed and an NCAA title — his former school.

Reed started his collegiate career playing for Michigan, under former coach Juwan Howard. Howard's firing led to the hiring of Dusty May, who said that during his early days on the job at Michigan, he wanted to get to know Reed, who was already in the transfer portal. Reed had heard Michigan was about to add another player at his position.

"'We’re going to have to add some things to your game that you don’t currently do if we’re going to make it work,'" May told reporters Sunday, recalling his conversations with Reed. "'But you know what, let’s just stay in the gym, keep working, keep being around getting to know each other, and see if this is right for you and right for us and we’ll revisit in a week or two.'"

Reed went to Connecticut, where he found an "environment that was perfect for him," May added.

"I started my career at Michigan and now I’m about to play them my final game of college basketball. I never would have thought that would happen in a million years. How cool a blessing is that?" Reed told reporters Sunday.

"I know a couple guys on the team, but I feel like at the end of the day it’s the game for the national championship game, so I feel like they’re going to be coming at my neck, we’re going to be coming at their neck, so it’s going to be a great, fun bloodbath and just a competitive game."

The Wolverines last won the national championship 37 years ago, when they beat Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime. Yes, it was so long ago, Seton Hall was playing in the title game. P.J. Carlesimo was the Pirates' head coach.

Michigan was led by forward Glen Rice, who had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and guard Rumeal Robinson, who had 21 points and 11 assists. Robinson also made two late free throws after a controversial foul call on Seton Hall.

Late in the regular season, Michigan coach Bill Frieder announced he would be taking the job at Arizona State. Instead of letting him finish the year, Michigan installed Steve Fisher as interim coach and went on a magical run. Fisher would later coach the "Fab Five" during the 1990s.

UConn coach Dan Hurley is a superstitious man. During March Madness in recent years, he's worn the same dark blue suit. He has owned the suit going back to his time coaching Rhode Island from 2012 to 2018, and he started wearing it again in 2023, during UConn's run to Hurley's first national title.

"I’m going to wear that [suit] until somebody takes me out,” Hurley told The Associated Press in March 2024, shortly before UConn won another title.

Leading up to Monday's national title game, a reporter asked Hurley about "the status" of the suit.

"The suit is in bad shape," Hurley said. "I’m not going to lie to you, guys. The pants are fine. It’s the jacket that is really -- the lining is a problem. There’s like three holes. When I stick my arm in the right, there’s like three different places, and if you can see it, it’s like the lining is coming through.

"It’s actually going past the dress shirt. I’d say my biggest problem is the lining in the jacket is a complete mess. I’m going to have to get a tailor in the offseason."

During the first half of Saturday's Michigan-Arizona Final Four game, Yazel Lendeborg injured his left knee and ankle on a drive to the hoop. Lendeborg, a 6-foot-9 forward who is Michigan's leading scorer, received a lot of treatment and returned for the second half. But he appeared to be moving gingerly.

"We were laughing," Michigan coach Dusty May later said. "He played the second half like a 38 year old at the YMCA -- and a really good 38 year old at the YMCA."

May expected Lendeborg to "give it a go [Monday night], but that will be entirely up to him and the medical staff." Lendeborg was not listed on Michigan's injury report, and has said publicly he would play, "unless I can't walk at all."

"Whatever version of Yaxel we get it’s going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball," May said.

To prepare his team for the Final Four, which is being held this year at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Michigan coach Dusty May had his players shoot in Michigan Stadium, known as the "Big House," to help adjust to the depth perception.

The move appears to have worked. In Saturday's win over Arizona, Michigan shot 48% from the field, 44% from 3-point range, and 81% from the free-throw line.

The other three Final Four teams all had worse shooting nights from the field: Arizona shot 37%, UConn shot 35%, and Illinois shot 34%.

In the late 90s, Dusty May attended Indiana University, where he worked as a student manager for Bob Knight, during the tail end of the coach's time there.

During May’s senior year, Indianapolis hosted the Final Four in 2000. Now, May is back in Indy, coaching Michigan in the national title game.

May said he still remembered coming to the Final Four in Indianapolis, looking for a coaching job. "All of us managers [who] wanted to find a way in coaching in any capacity would pile in a car and just get out and hopefully bump into any coach," he said, "and find a way to make an impression, obviously using the Coach Knight badge to get in any conversation.

"Just a full circle moment from chasing around coaches trying to beg for a [graduate assistant coaching] spot, to be back here with this team, it’s surreal."

On Sunday, UConn coach Dan Hurley revealed that Huskies guard Solo Ball had suffered "some type of a foot sprain" during Saturday's Final Four game, was wearing a walking boot, and wouldn't be participating in practice that day.

When Ball spoke to reporters on Sunday, he said, "I’m feeling all right right now. Just leaving it up to the medical staff. I’m doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow."

Ball was not listed on the injury report ahead of the championship game, which apparently means he will try to play. Ball has struggled during the NCAA Tournament, though, averaging 8.8 points while shooting about 32% from the field, both down from his regular season numbers.

Looking at the box score, Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau appeared to have a poor shooting night (5-for-17) in Saturday's national semifinal against Arizona, a game that turned out to be a 18-point Michigan win.

But Michigan coach Dusty May revealed afterward that “a couple of those [Cadeau shots] were passes off the backboard.” May had instructed Cadeau to use the backboard to pass the ball to Aday Mara, Michigan's 7-foot-3 center, to work around Arizona’s own 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas.

“We’ve spent about 5 to 10 minutes the last three days working on the lob off the backboard,” May said.

Cadeau finished the game 10 assists, but perhaps he should have been credited with more. Mara ended up with 26 points and 9 rebounds.