Tristen Newton scored 20 points for UConn as they became back-to-back national champions, defeating Purdue 75-60 on Monday night in Glendale.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Stephon Castle had 15 while Donovan Clingan and Cam Spencer added 11 a piece in UConn’s victory. The Huskies are the first team to win two national championships in consecutive years since Florida in 2006-07.
Zach Edey dropped 37 points for Purdue as they fell in the first appearance on this stage since 1969. Struggling on offense besides Edey, the Boilermakers were 1-for-7 (14.3%) from three and shot 24-for-54 (44.4%) overall.
The battle of two No. 1 seeds flipped back and forth in the first half as neither team was able to pull away from the other.
As his team’s focal point all season, Edey guided the Boilermakers with his physicality in the paint, fighting his way to the bucket. The 7-foot-4 center led all players in scoring with 16 points in the first half.
A mixture of UConn’s defense on Purdue’s guards and a collective effort offensively helped the Huskies go into halftime with a 36-30 lead. Purdue was limited to just two three-point attempts.
“We knew he [Edey] was going to get his points and it took him 25 shots to get 37 points,” Newton said. “That was the gameplan, limit their guards and everybody did it great job on their guards to limit them and their impact.”
Zach Edey with the slam. In the first eight minutes, Edey has scored 11 points for the #Boilermakers. UConn 18-16 Purdue. #NCAAChampionship #MarchMadness https://t.co/GN30WVQJO1
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) April 9, 2024
Acknowledging that Edey was Purdue’s biggest threat, UConn began to double-team him. Regardless, Edey scored 37 of the 60 points for the Boilermakers.
From the start of the second half onward, the game got chippy with more contact resulting in more fouls.
UConn were able to enlarge a lead into double-figures as they dominated in the rebound category, 33-28. The Huskies also forced nine turnovers from Purdue.
“I thought our guys gave a good effort and energy defensively,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. “The real difference ended up being their ability to offensive rebound in the second half. We were wasting so much energy to fight once they got into double digits. Then we couldn’t get stops, couldn’t get rebounds and it was really hard for us to overcome.”
Claiming this victory, UConn has won their sixth national championship in program history.
The festivities and celebrations are just getting started as the UConn #Huskies have now been crowned national champs for a sixth time in program history. #MarchMadness #NCAAChampionship pic.twitter.com/gy0eCayAol
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) April 9, 2024
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
