UConn’s Insane Elite 8 Comeback Win Against Duke Stuns Caitlin Clark, Magic Johnson and Fans

UConn and Duke clashed in the Elite Eight to bid for a chance to head into the Final Four of this year's March Madness.

UConn’s Insane Elite 8 Comeback Win Against Duke Stuns Caitlin Clark, Magic Johnson and Fans

Magic Johnson and Caitlin Clark watched UConn stun Duke (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • UConn staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat Duke 73-72 in the Elite 8.
  • Braylon Mullins hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer to secure the victory with just 0.4 seconds remaining.
  • Cameron Boozer expressed disappointment after the loss, reflecting on the emotional toll of the game.

UConn and Duke are two of the biggest college basketball programs in the country, be it in men’s or women’s, as they have been regular participants in the late stages of March Madness.

The former, particularly in the men’s program, is known for its collective brand, which generally sees them play exceptional basketball without having many superstar prospects to name in the last several years.

On the other hand, Duke has had the benefit of being able to land their hands on some of the best prospects to come through the country.

Be it Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Jared McCain, and the NBA’s current rookie sensations, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, they have had legitimate superstars who have generally entertained fans.

This year, too, they had Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twins, whose father happens to be Carlos Boozer, someone who once played with LeBron James, and then battled against him as part of the Chicago Bulls.

Buoyed by them and their other elite recruits, the Blue Devils carved out a 15-point lead at halftime on Sunday. Understandably, fans felt their collective firepower was going to be too much for UConn.

Instead, the latter started chipping away at the lead and then found themselves down two with 10 seconds to go. But the ball was still with their opponents.

As the Blue Devils inbounded the ball, all five Huskies pressured them in their own half. Cayden Boozer tried to pass it over two UConn players, but they jumped higher and tipped the ball.

Once the Huskies gathered the loose ball, they passed to Braylon Mullins, who confidently drained a three-pointer from Caitlin Clark range, which gave his Huskies the lead with .4 seconds left.

UConn’s last-gasp win leaves basketball fans in awe

March Madness usually brings about some of the best basketball in both the women’s and men’s games. But in the latter, buzzer-beaters are more common, and this was another example.

Those .4 seconds were not enough for Duke to score another basket, leaving fans stunned as UConn upset the pregame favorites with a score of 73-72.

Immediately, Caitlin Clark, Magic Johnson, NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, and many others joined fans to react to this insane sequence. Check out examples of those reactions below:

Had Cayden Boozer somehow passed the ball to his wide-open teammates, he and his twin brother would have walked into the Final Four with the belief that they would have a legitimate chance at winning the whole thing.

Instead, the Boozer twins go home knowing their college basketball careers are going to end on such a disappointing note, with both expected to join NBA teams this summer.

Cameron Boozer ‘hurting’ after disappointing loss

Cameron Boozer is expected to go in the top three to five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, and his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, will likely go in the second round.

Cayden and Cameron Boozer
Cayden and Cameron Boozer (Image via FanDuel Sportsbook/X)

Knowing that they could not finish the goal they set out to do with their teammates, the former said this after the game.

I’m hurting right now. We’re all hurting. I wish I could have gave more for those guys… Everyone’s hurting. Dealing with injuries, playing. It takes a lot of heart to do that. I’m just proud of them, proud of our team.

Cameron Boozer said

The 18-year-old was visibly emotional, knowing fully well that he and his brother would not be able to follow the college basketball championship-winning tradition their father, Carlos Boozer, started.

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