UConn stuns No. 1 Florida 63-53 to reach NCAA championship game
Arlington, Texas — DeAndre Daniels scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as UConn stunned Florida, the No. 1 team in the nation, 63-53 on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium and advance to Monday night's national championship.
The Huskies (31-8) will attempt to win their fourth national title against the winner of Saturday night's late game between Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Shabazz Napier added 13 points and six assists for UConn while Ryan Boatright scored 13 points and Niels Giffey 11 for the Huskies, who shot 56 percent from the floor.
UConn overcame a sluggish start against the Gators (36-3), trailing 16-4 with 9:51 left in the half when Daniels keyed an 11-0 run with a pair of 3-pointers that pulled UConn within 16-15 two minutes later.
UConn took its first lead of the night, 21-20, on a 3-point play by Niels Giffey with 3:18 left in the half before scoring the final four points of the half on baskets by Shabazz Napier and Daniels to open a three-point advantage at the break.
The Huskies then scored the first six points of the second half to open a 31-22 lead and never trailed again in ending Florida's 30-game winning streak and beating the Gators for the second time this year.
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