UConn vs. San Diego State live score, updates, highlights from 2023 NCAA championship game

By | April 3, 2023
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The field of 68 teams has been whittled down to two, and only one will be crowned a champion on Monday night. 

UConn and San Diego State will battle for a national title in Houston to put the cap on what has been one of the most chaotic NCAA Tournaments in history.

Both teams took vastly different paths to this point. UConn has won each of its first five tournament games by double-digits, including blowouts of Arkansas and Gonzaga, to move within a win of the program’s fifth championship since 1999.

The wins haven’t come as easy for the Aztecs, who saw their last two games come down to the final seconds. Nevertheless, San Diego State’s gritty defense and late-game shot-making has lifted the program to the doorstep of the program’s first national championship.

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Neither head coach had won an NCAA Tournament game at their current school before this year.

Dan Hurley’s Huskies fell in the first round in 2021 and 2022 before flipping the switch this season. The former Wagner and Rhode Island coach, son of legendary high school coach Bob Hurley, is now one win away from a title.

Brian Dutcher waited more than three decades to get his first shot as a head coach and has thrived at San Diego State. The Aztecs were denied a chance to capitalize on the best season in program history when the tournament was cancelled in 2020, but the same great defense persists three years later.

UConn has looked like the best team in the country since the start of the tournament, but Dutcher’s group is high on confidence and has a defense that will be tough for the Huskies to roll over. 

The Huskies opened as a significant favorite over San Diego State, but this is March Madness. Just about anything can happen – yes, even in April. 

MORE: Watch the national championship game with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from the NCAA championship game between UConn and San Diego State on Monday. Follow along with all of the key moments below.

UConn vs. San Diego State score

  1 2 F
UConn 36 – –
San Diego State 24 – –

UConn vs. San Diego State live updates, highlights from 2023 NCAA championship game

(All times Eastern)

11:19 p.m. — Jordan Hawkins buries a HUGE three to extend UConn’s lead back to eight. That was a big-time shot.

11:18 p.m. — We have a new best mark for San Diego State: The Aztecs trail by five after free throws.

11:17 p.m. — Turnovers cost the Huskies a chance to regain full control. San Diego State trails by seven.

11:15 p.m. — UConn pushes the lead back to nine thanks to some big free throws.

11:10 p.m. — A three followed by a steal and a layup cuts the Huskies’ lead to six! Wow, what a sequence.

11:08 p.m. — San Diego State refuses to go away… It’s getting late, but the Aztecs trim the deficit back to 11. They’re starting to gain confidence on the offensive end.

11:06 p.m. — ‘Joey California’ Calcaterra with a three to push the Huskies’ lead from 12 to 15.

11:01 p.m. — A free throw contest has broken out here. San Diego State shoots two, makes one, and now the Huskies will be going back to the line.

10:58 p.m. — Free throws have allowed UConn to regain control and go back up by 14.

10:53 p.m. — San Diego State finally gets something out of its bench with a three from Adam Seiko. The Huskies’ lead remains double-digits, though, and Sanogo is going back to the line for more.

10:46 p.m. — Mensah thought he had a clean block on Sanogo, but it’s called for a foul. UConn up 11 with Sanogo going to the line.

10:38 p.m. — An early timeout from Brian Dutcher as the Aztecs struggle to inbound the ball…still a 12-point game, but UConn has given San Diego State some extra chances in the opening two minutes.

10:37 p.m. — We are underway in the second half with a basket from each side. UConn is still playing very tough defense against the Aztecs.

End of first half: UConn 36, San Diego State 24

10:13 p.m. — The final minute of the first half was one of San Diego State’s best, with back-to-back shots and an impressive stop on the other end. We have a 12-point game entering the second half, with UConn fully in control.

10:12 p.m. — Back-to-back shots for the Aztecs, who now trail by 12. 

10:08 p.m. — Clingan is making plays just by being tall. The latest: A San Diego State pass that landed right in his chest.

10:04 p.m. — There’s another key sequence: The Aztecs force a turnover but miss the layup on the other end, and it turns into a three for UConn. Five-point swing.

10:03 p.m. — San Diego State is 5-of-22 from the field and trails by 16. It’s getting ugly.

10:01 p.m. — The drought is over for San Diego State, but another bad turnover turns this into a 13-point Huskies lead.

9:57 p.m. — A costly sequence for San Diego State: Nathan Mensah passes on a good look and turns it over, which leads to a UConn three. The Aztecs trail by 12 and haven’t made a shot in more than 10 minutes.

9:52 p.m. — The Aztecs will have three free throws coming after the under-8 timeout. They’ll need all three of them: It’s now a 10-point deficit. 

9:51 p.m. — San Diego State just doesn’t look comfortable or confident on the offensive end. The Aztecs haven’t made a shot in more than nine minutes.

9:46 p.m. — This is turning into an offensive mess for San Diego State after another turnover turns into a UConn basket. It’s 20-12 Huskies, and the Aztecs haven’t made a shot for several minutes.

9:43 p.m. — San Diego State’s scoring drought ends after Keshad Johnson is fouled by Clingan. UConn leads 16-12 as both offense scrap for points.

9:38 p.m. — Kemba in the house!

9:36 p.m. — Two offensive fouls against UConn so far, this time one against 7-2 Donovan Clingan. Meanwhile, San Diego State hasn’t scored in about four minutes.

9:35 p.m. — Momentum has turned in UConn’s favor, with the Huskies going on a 6-0 run and a three-second violation giving the ball right back to them.

9:33 p.m. — Now Sanogo is making his presence felt. He makes a defensive play and comes down the other end to score. We’re tied at 10.

9:29 p.m. — San Diego State is holding its own through the first media timeout, leading 10-8. UConn hasn’t started making threes yet. 

9:25 p.m. — Two great defenses, but these two combine to start the game 5-of-5 from the field. It’s 8-4 Aztecs.

9:22 p.m. — Lamont Butler stays hot and answers a Jordan Hawkins jumper with a three. Advantage Aztecs in the opening 60 seconds.

9:19 p.m. — Dutcher and Hurley embrace at midcourt, and we are headed for tip-off. Let’s crown a national champion!

9:15 p.m. — The final night of Jim Nantz’s college basketball broadcasting career begins. We are just a few minutes away from tip-off.

8:57 p.m. — Dan Hurley won’t talk about what it would mean to cut down the nets in Houston tonight. He’s taking it step-by-step. 

8:46 p.m. — Brian Dutcher is cautiously confident ahead of what will be a huge challenge for his team.

What channel is UConn vs. San Diego State on today?

  • TV Channel: CBS
  • Live stream: March Madness Live, Paramount+, Fubo

The 2023 national championship game between UConn and San Diego State will be broadcast on CBS. Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Grant Hill (analyst), and Bill Raftery (analyst) will be on the call. This will be Nantz’s final NCAA Tournament game.

Fans can stream the game on March Madness Live, Paramount+, or Fubo, which offers a free trial. 

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