HOUSTON — Connecticut came into Monday night’s NCAA men’s championship team riding a run of blowout wins through March Madness, never having to sweat its survival. San Diego State entered with a penchant for last-second comebacks. Then they played a title game that seemed to offer both outcomes.
UConn jumped out to a 12-point first-half lead that it could never quite nail into place after the break, then watched the Aztecs claw their way back as this defensive-minded team seemed unwilling to play the fated role of double-digit loser.
