VCU knocks off UNC
VCU eliminated No. 2 seed North Carolina in overtime, another Day‑1 upset that deepened the tournament’s bracket chaos. The OT thriller is already being cited as a defining upset of this opening round. (sports.yahoo.com)
VCU beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime on March 19, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.; the win came with No. 11 VCU improving to 28-7 and No. 6 UNC finishing 24-9. (espn.com) (espn.com) Sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr. scored 34 points, drilling 7 of 10 from 3-point range and scoring 23 of those points after halftime to carry VCU’s comeback. (espn.com) (espn.com) VCU erased a 19-point second-half deficit — the largest comeback ever in a first-round NCAA Tournament game — to force overtime and pull the upset. (usatoday.com) (usatoday.com) In overtime, UNC’s Seth Trimble hit 1 of 2 free throws to make it 78-77 with 35 seconds left before Hill’s stepback 3 with 15 seconds remaining gave VCU an 80-78 lead; VCU’s Veesar was then fouled with 4.2 seconds left and missed the first of two free throws. (espn.com) (espn.com) The Rams advance to face No. 3 Illinois in the South Region second round on March 21, with ESPN’s bracket listing the matchup and CBS scheduled to carry the game. (espn.com) (espn.com) North Carolina managed just eight points in the final 12:11 of the game (including overtime) and missed multiple free throws down the stretch, closing the season on a three-game losing streak. (sports.yahoo.com) (sports.yahoo.com)
