"I knew when the ball was in his hands at the end that he was going to make a play to win the game for us. Just like we drew it up I guess," San Diego coach Bill Grier said.
In fact, it was far from the last shot one would have expected.
Gyno Pomare and Brandon Jackson, who led the Toreros with 22 and 18 points, respectively, seemed the likely candidates for a last shot, especially since Pomare was 10 of 12 from the field.
Instead, both of them were on the bench after Pomare fouled out and Jackson had leg cramps, so the duty fell on Jackson, who had just 2 points to that point.
As he readied for the final play, Jackson said he overheard UConn players discussing his route, a break off a double screen.
"I was like, 'Man, they know the play. Whatever, I'll just do it,'" he said. "I got the ball and saw the opening coach was talking about to the right, so I just drove to the right and it went in."
The shot was the best medicine for Johnson and Grier, who is battling a cold.
"I don't feel (the cramps) any more after that shot," Johnson said. "I was cool then."
Grier: "I'm sure this will make me feel a lot better."
The shot came after Rob Jones hit a runner to make the score 68-67 Toreros, but the Huskies answered with 9 seconds left as Jerome Dyson was fouled on the drive and made both free throws.
San Diego then took the ball down 1 with 5.2 to play, and Jackson sealed the game with the jumper.
Dyson had 14 in the losing effort, while Jeff Adrien led the way with 18 points.
The Toreros will now advance to face Western Kentucky on Sunday in a battle for the region's Cindarella moniker. Both squads seem to have hit their strides at just the right time, especially 22-13 San Diego.
"I think our team is playing the best ball it ever has," Johnson said.