NCAA March Madness: Michigan Dominates Tennessee with Aday Mara Heading to Final Four, UConn Stuns Duke with Miracle Three-Pointer

NCAA March Madness now has its four finalists. Michigan crushed Tennessee 95-62 with a solid performance from Spanish center Aday Mara (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks), becoming the first Spanish player to reach an NCAA men's Final Four. In the other major matchup of the night, UConn defeated Duke 73-72 thanks to an incredible three-pointer by Braylen Mullins from beyond the arc at the buzzer, capping off a spectacular comeback in the college tournament.

The matchup between Michigan Wolverines and Tennessee Volunteers began with a physical, grinding pace—exactly the scenario the Volunteers were seeking. Tennessee tried to control the game through constant contact and extended possessions, and even managed to draw a second personal foul on Aday Mara just five minutes in, forcing the Spanish center to sit on the bench during a crucial stretch of the first half.

But when Michigan found space to run, the game changed completely. The Wolverines began to dominate the boards and accelerate the pace, generating an offensive onslaught that Tennessee couldn't stop. Yaxel Lendeborg led the attack with 27 points, while Elliot Cadeau set the team's tempo and energy off the bench elevated the collective level.

In the midst of that devastating run, Aday Mara appeared again, imposing his presence in the paint, grabbing defensive rebounds and providing offensive solutions at key moments. Michigan put together a devastating 21-0 run in the first half that definitively broke the game open and pushed the score to a commanding 48-26 at halftime.

The second half barely had a story. Tennessee tried to respond with more aggressive defense and full-court pressure, but the game was already decided. Among the most notable plays was a sequence that summarized the impact of the Spanish big man: a dunk, a three-pointer, and a block in just a few minutes, reflecting Aday Mara's total influence on both sides of the court. Michigan maintained control through the final buzzer, sealing a dominant 95-62 victory and punching their ticket to the NCAA Final Four.

The other regional semifinal offered one of the most dramatic finishes of the entire NCAA March Madness. UConn Huskies pulled off an epic comeback against Duke Blue Devils, winning 73-72 in an absolutely unexpected ending.

For much of the game, Duke dominated clearly. The Blue Devils built a 19-point lead thanks to interior superiority from Cam Boozer, who finished with 27 points and 8 rebounds, well supported by his brother Cayden Boozer, who added 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Meanwhile, UConn endured a frustrating night from three-point range. The Huskies shot just 1 of 18 from three-point range through the first 34 minutes, but never stopped competing thanks to the interior work of Tarris Reed, who kept the team afloat with 26 points and 9 rebounds.

The momentum shifted in the final minutes. UConn began to find success from beyond the arc and went from being completely out of the game to fighting back into contention. Three-pointers from Silas Demary and Alex Karaban brought the score to 69-70 with 50 seconds remaining.

After a Cam Boozer basket, the finish became pure March Madness chaos. Demary was fouled, made just one of his free throws, and left the game wide open. On the next possession, UConn's defensive pressure forced a turnover on Duke's inbound pass. Braylen Mullins recovered the ball, received it from Karaban, and launched a running three-pointer from well beyond the arc, hitting an impossible shot that sent the arena into pandemonium and sealed the 73-72 final.

With these results, the NCAA Final Four is set with Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, and UConn. Michigan arrives riding the impact of Aday Mara and their collective dominance, while UConn advances after delivering one of the most incredible finishes of this year's March Madness.