Sports06 April, 20261 min read
Karaban's Second-Half Rally Falls Short as Michigan Outlasts UConn
Michigan defeated UConn 69-63 to win the national championship. Alex Karaban became emotional after the loss; Hurley consoled him on court.
Hard-Fought Final
Hurley and Karaban shared an emotional postgame moment after a 69-63 loss to Michigan. Karaban led UConn with 17 points and 11 rebounds in his final collegiate game.
UConn managed to slow the game's pace to counter Michigan's high-scoring offense. Their adjustment limited Michigan to 16 first-half points, the lowest since 2018.
Michigan's Second-Half Surge
Michigan's efficiency rebounded in the second half as Cadeau took over, scoring 19 points. UConn struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 33 percent after halftime.
Michigan's 22 offensive rebounds and second-chance points played a decisive role. The game featured fewer three-pointers than any UConn Final Four contest since 2005.
Legacy and Resilience
Karaban leaves UConn as the program's all-time winningest player, having played 150 games over four years.
He reflected, I care about winning. I have done everything in my power to help this program win.
The loss ended UConn's run of four national titles in six years.