GLENDALE, Ariz. — Connecticut often overwhelms opponents with its size and strength.

Harried by the fighting Missouri Tigers, UConn needed something else: speed.

Enter 6-foot-1 freshman Kemba Walker, who matched a career high with 23 points as the top-seeded Huskies held off Missouri, 82-75, in the West Regional final yesterday. UConn earned a trip to Detroit and extended the Big East's dominance of the NCAA tournament.

UConn is headed to its third Final Four, where it will meet either Big East rival Louisville or Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State. This trip may have seemed harder than the others, because the Huskies were rocked this week by a report alleging that they violated NCAA recruiting rules.

Then came a duel with Mizzou. But the Huskies kept their poise even as the third-seeded Tigers overcame an early 11-point deficit to surge ahead in the second half.

"We took some bumps, we took some bruises, but here we are once again going to the Final Four, and I'm just elated," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said.

Among those banged up was 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet, who bloodied a finger on his right hand scrapping for a loose ball on the floor in the second half. The Big East co-player of the year finished with 13 rebounds but only five points and no blocks, and held a bandage to his hand after the game.

"I'm getting it checked out, but I should be good," Thabeet said.

A.J. Price added 18 points and was named most outstanding player of the West region. But the difference was Walker, who deftly handled the Tigers' pressure defense.

"I told him he grew up," Price said. "He played like a man among boys today."

When it ended, Calhoun made an exaggerated fist pump and the emotional Huskies (31-4) mobbed each other at center court.

"I can't lie to you, after the game I actually did cry," said Walker, who went 7-of-9 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

UConn kept its emotions in check when it counted, though, clinching the victory by making all 10 of its free throws in the final 1:02.

The Huskies are still in the hunt for their third national title — the first two went through regionals in Phoenix in 1999 and 2004.

"We do love coming out here," Calhoun said with a chuckle. "I'm buying a house. I'll come out here once every five years."

Leo Lyons and Matt Lawrence each had 13 points for Missouri (31-7), which was long on heart but short on rebounds. UConn dominated the boards 47-32.

"Obviously, I hurt for our guys," Mizzou coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought I could get them to that magical place. Maybe we just ran out of time, a couple minutes."

Indeed, the Tigers edged within 68-65 on Justin Stafford's tip-in with 2:42 to go.

That's when Walker answered with the shot of the game — an improbable off-balance bank shot as the shot clock clicked toward :00.

Stafford scored again, but Price hit a jumper from the lane to push the Huskies' lead to 72-67, and the Tigers never recovered.