For a while, it seemed the ending was set, and not in the Connecticut Huskies’ favor. The Duke Blue Devils, sharp and composed, built a 19-point first-half lead in the Elite Eight. Every Huskies run stalled before it mattered.
Every Duke possession showed control. But March rarely follows scripts. By the final seconds, the Huskies had changed everything, stealing a 73-72 win with a bold long-range shot that barely beat the buzzer.
How Tarris Reed Jr. Fueled the Connecticut Huskies’ Elite Eight Comeback Against Duke
If the ending was chaos, the comeback had a heartbeat — Tarris Reed Jr. He refused to let the game slip away. While the Huskies’ outside shooting wavered, Reed remained steady.
He finished with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists. But the numbers don’t quite capture the texture of his performance. The way he carved out space in the paint, the way defenders leaned into him, and still couldn’t move him off his line.
In the first half, when the deficit threatened to become something heavier than just numbers, Reed kept showing up. 12 points, most of them through contact.
And then in the second half, it became undeniable.
He opened the period with a scoring burst that felt like a deliberate shift in tone. The Blue Devils adjusted, collapsing inward, sending extra bodies, and trying to crowd him out.
It worked for a moment. But it also opened the floor in ways the Huskies hadn’t seen earlier. The lanes widened, and the game slowly and almost quietly began to tilt.
The college basketball world couldn’t contain its excitement at his performance.
“Tarris Reed putting UConn on his back once again. 11 points in the first nine minutes of the second half. What an absolute force he’s been in the NCAA tournament,” ESPN insider Jeff Borzello said.
Tarris Reed putting UConn on his back once again. 11 points in the first nine minutes of the second half. What an absolute force he’s been in the NCAA tournament.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 29, 2026
“Tarris Reed has played his ass off today. Keeping UConn in this one,” hoops analyst Jeff Goodman wrote.
In another tweet, he said, “UConn makes it a one-possession game with 3:42 left. Tarris Reed has been an absolute monster today. Scoring in post, passing out of the post, blocking shots, defending the rim, you name it.”
“Tarris Reed Jr. is EVERYWHERE for UCONN early 😤,” ClutchPoints shared a video.
Tarris Reed Jr. is EVERYWHERE for UCONN early 😤pic.twitter.com/wxUJjeSoo5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 29, 2026
“It’s not an exaggeration: Tarris Reed is playing the game of his career today. The resilience of the UConn center has given the Huskies belief. What a closing stretch ahead!” NBC Sports broadcaster John Fanta said.
By the time the final minute of the game arrived, the Huskies had turned a near blowout into something fragile, a one-possession game balanced on execution.
The Blue Devils still had control, technically. A 2-point lead. The ball. Seconds left.
And then … a rushed inbound. A pass that didn’t quite land right. A deflection that turned into opportunity.
Braylon Mullins with the recovery, the quick exchange, the decision to shoot from a distance most players hesitate to consider. The ball in the air, the clock nearly gone.
The shot fell. 0.4 seconds remained. Just enough time for the moment to register.
