VCU's historic comeback
VCU erased a 19-point deficit to beat North Carolina in overtime — the largest first-round comeback in NCAA tournament history. Terrence Hill Jr. poured in 34 points off the bench and the result raises fresh questions about UNC after consecutive early exits. (youtube.com)
No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina 82-78 in overtime on March 19, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., moving the Rams to 28-7 while the Tar Heels fell to 24-9. (espn.com) VCU sophomore Terrence Hill Jr. played 40 minutes, shot 13-for-23 from the field and 7‑for‑10 from three, and added five rebounds and five assists in the win. (espn.com) Hill’s late stepback 3 with 15 seconds left in overtime proved decisive, capping a stretch in which he produced 20 of his points after halftime. (vcuathletics.com) Freshman guard Nyk Lewis contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, forward Lazar Djokovic scored 15 with five rebounds and two blocks, and VCU’s bench outscored North Carolina’s bench 42-7. (vcuathletics.com) Henri Veesaar led North Carolina with 26 points, while the Tar Heels finished 8‑for‑29 from beyond the arc and missed their final nine field-goal attempts. (espn.com) The victory was VCU’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2016 and ranks among the largest comebacks in tournament history. (vcuathletics.com (sports.yahoo.com)) The loss continues UNC’s recent postseason slide after a 71-64 first-round defeat to Ole Miss in 2025, and head coach Hubert Davis drew scrutiny after saying “Because that was my decision” when asked about late-rotation choices. (wralsportsfan.com (espn.com) VCU now advances to face No. 3 Illinois in the second round on March 21, with the game scheduled for 7:50 p.m. ET. (cbssports.com)
