The Academics held St. Joseph scoreless over the final 3 minutes, 47 seconds to advance to the Class LL state championship game with a 59-47 win over the Cadets at Central Connecticut State's Detrick Gymnasium.
St. Joseph (3-4) did not have a basket over the final 6:08 of the game. The Academics scored the game's final 10 points and outscored the Cadets 23-6 in the fourth quarter.
Three blocked shots, two by Tavon Allen and the other by Mike Barnes, helped keep St. Joes out of the scoring column.

This is Hillhouse's first final since winning back-to-back state titles in 2006-07. The Academics (24-3) will face top-seeded Bridgeport Central Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at 8:30 p.m.
The last time the Academics faced the Hilltoppers in the finals was 40 years ago, when Hillhouse beat Central 80-78.