Illinois falls short in the semifinals
The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team has advanced to the NCAA championship game after defeating Illinois 71–62 in the Final Four semifinal.
UConn built its decisive lead late in the second half and maintained control until the final buzzer, securing a place in the title game.
Guard Keaton Vegler led Illinois, but it wasn’t enough to overcome UConn’s strong performance in Indianapolis. 
Balkan Players Contribute, But Final Remains Out of Reach
Brad Underwood’s team trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, struggling against UConn’s aggressive defense and offensive inconsistencies early in the game.
Vegler stood out with 20 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Andrej Stojaković finished with nine points, eight rebounds, and one assist, while Tomislav Ivišić added 16 points and seven rebounds. David Mirković recorded six points and five rebounds in the loss, while Zvonimir Ivišić was scoreless, and Mihailo Petrović did not see playing time.
UConn was led by center Tarris Reed, who posted 17 points and 11 rebounds. He was supported by Braylon Mullins with 15 points and three rebounds, and Solo Ball, who contributed 13 points.
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