UNC collapses late, blows 19-point lead in shocking overtime loss to VCU

As Terrence Hill Jr. stepped backmost and launched a three-pointer with 15 seconds near successful overtime, his No. 11 VCU teammates and coaches each looked up successful hopes their comeback was worthy it successful the end. 

The shot fell done the hoop, and the Rams officially erased a 19-point shortage to the North Carolina Tar Heels, stunning the No. 6 effect with an 82-78 overtime triumph successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA Tournament. 

UNC couldn’t fathom what transpired connected the tribunal successful Greenville, South Carolina, arsenic they held their destiny successful their hands successful the 2nd fractional erstwhile they took a 19-point pb with 15 minutes remaining successful the game. 

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Terrence Hill Jr. of the VCU Rams reacts to a handbasket during the 2nd fractional against the North Carolina Tar Heels successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

But, with 11 seconds near and escaped throws missed near and close for the Tar Heels, Hill poured successful a layup that tied the crippled astatine 75 apiece. 

If lone Seth Trimble’s bargain with 2.9 near connected the regularisation timepiece resulted successful a game-winning three-pointer, which ne'er touched the rim contempt a coagulated look astatine the net, the Tar Heels would’ve fto retired a large suspiration of relief. 

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Instead, they went 0-for-7 successful other time, though the crippled remained adjacent with VCU besides failing to deed their shots arsenic well. It wasn’t until 2:08 near successful overtime erstwhile Nyk Lewis yet got a pugnacious layup to spell to instrumentality a 77-75 lead. 

Trimble would necktie it backmost up aft being fouled, and helium astir had a three-point play erstwhile his layup conscionable rimmed retired aft being fouled with 35 seconds near connected the clock. However, helium was lone capable to deed 1 of his 2 attempts astatine the foundation stripe, leaving the doorway unfastened for VCU to instrumentality the pb with a bucket. 

Jonathan Powell of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to a play during the archetypal fractional against the VCU Rams successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Hill, who tallied 34 points connected 13-of-23 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three, didn’t miss his people erstwhile the Rams needed it most. 

Still, the occupation wasn’t finished, arsenic Henri Veesaar was fouled successful the lane connected the different extremity and sent to the enactment for 2 escaped throws. With an 80-78 deficit, helium had the cleanable accidental to necktie it up, but helium missed the archetypal attempt. That was the extremity for the Tar Heels, arsenic they hung their heads erstwhile the timepiece deed zero. 

It was VCU’s archetypal NCAA Tournament crippled triumph since 2016, and they needed to sprout 62% from the tract successful the 2nd half, including 7-of-10 from three, to station a 47-36 people crossed those 20 minutes to unit overtime. 

Henri Veesaar of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts aft a crippled against the VCU Rams successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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While High Point’s thrilling triumph implicit Wisconsin was the upset of the time to that constituent successful the archetypal round, VCU’s took the prize aft 1 time of enactment successful March Madness.  

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