(1) Connecticut 82, (3) Missouri 75
No. 1 Connecticut handled No. 3 Missouri’s just well enough and received excellent play off the bench from freshman guard Kemba Walker to beat the Tigers 82-75, becoming the first team to reach this year’s Final Four. Walker’s speed and energy helped foil the Tigers’ active full-court press, and the freshman led the Huskies with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Huskies committed 16 turnovers while Missouri had only six, which helped the Tigers keep the game close until the final moments. Connecticut made up for a little sloppy play by dominating the rebounding battle. Junior center Hasheem Thabeet was not a major factor in scoring with only five points, but he had 12 rebounds to help give the Huskies a 44-26 advantage.
Missouri struggled to consistently make shots at 43 percent from the field. The Tigers especially struggled from long range, making only 5-of-18 three-pointers. Leo Lyons and Matt Lawrence each had 13 points to lead the Tigers.
