March Madness: Follow Final Four Live Updates
The NCAA Final Four produced two intense semifinal games on April 4, 2026. UConn beat Illinois 71-62 to reach the national championship game.
UConn edges Illinois in physical semifinal
The Huskies advanced to their third title game in four seasons. They finished with a 71-62 victory over Illinois.
UConn shot 22-for-62 from the floor but connected on 12 three-pointers. Braylon Mullins had 12 points at halftime, going 4-for-8 and hitting three triples.
Illinois staged several late pushes. Keaton Wagler drilled a big three in the final minute to cut the deficit to four.
The Illini mounted an 8-0 run that tightened the score late. Tomi extended that run by making two free throws down the stretch.
Solo Ball and David Mirkovic made timely shots to slow Illinois’ momentum. Tomislav Ivisic gave Illinois an early lead during the first half.
After the game, coach Dan Hurley praised the group’s resilience and culture. He discussed the program’s sustained success with Andy Katz in a postgame interview.
Michigan builds control against Arizona
Michigan and Arizona met in the second semifinal as top seeds. The Wolverines jumped ahead early and held a commanding lead.
Michigan opened with a 16-5 run and led 48-32 at halftime. Roddy Gayle Jr. answered an Arizona surge with a highlight dunk.
Ivan Kharchenkov pulled Arizona within nine with a long-range basket in the first half. A Michigan player identified as Yaxel produced another notable play during the game.
The Wolverines maintained control in the second half while pushing toward a berth in the national title game. The matchup unfolded under intense national attention.
Broadcast, schedule and context
The semifinals aired on TBS and TruTV. Game times were 6:09 p.m. ET and 8:49 p.m. ET.
Matchups were No.2 UConn vs. No.3 Illinois and No.1 Michigan vs. No.1 Arizona. Dusty May was on hand to scout the first contest and observe potential opponents.
Fans tracked the action across platforms. Filmogaz.com offered live coverage while viewers consulted March Madness: Follow Final Four Live Updates for play-by-play reporting.
