The San Diego State Aztecs had a heartbreaking loss in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship game to the University of Connecticut Huskies, ending their prolonged drought without an NCAA title. The Aztecs had not been to the Final Four since 2011 and had not won a championship since 1966.
The Aztecs had a remarkable season, finishing with a 30-2 record and winning the Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament titles. They were led by senior guard Malachi Flynn, who was named the Mountain West Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award.
The Aztecs were the first team from the Mountain West Conference to make it to the Final Four since UNLV in 1991. They were also the first team from the conference to make it to the championship game since Utah in 1998.
The Aztecs had a chance to win the championship game in the final seconds, but a potential game-winning shot by Flynn rimmed out. The Huskies then held on for a 61-55 victory.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Aztecs and their fans, who had been hoping for an NCAA title for decades. The Aztecs have now gone 55 years without an NCAA title, and they will have to wait at least another year before they get another chance.
The loss was especially hard on Flynn, who had been the leader of the team all season and had come so close to winning it all. He finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in the championship game, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Aztecs can be proud of their accomplishments this season. They made history by becoming the first team from the Mountain West Conference to make it to the Final Four in 30 years and were one shot away from winning it all.
The Aztecs will now look to build on this season’s success and try to make it back to the Final Four next year. With Flynn returning for his senior season, they will have a great chance to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament and hopefully bring home an NCAA title.
