Eleventh-seeded VCU defeated sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
North Carolina held a 19-point lead, 57-38, with 15 minutes left in regulation. VCU outscored the Tar Heels 37-20 over the remainder of regulation to tie the game at 75-75.
Terrence Hill Jr. scored a layup with 11 seconds remaining to tie the score. North Carolina's Seth Trimble stole the ball but missed a three-point attempt at the regulation buzzer.
In overtime, VCU's Nyk Lewis made a layup with 2:08 left for a 77-75 lead. Trimble responded with a tying basket, was fouled on a subsequent layup that rimmed out, and made one of two free throws, leaving the score at 78-78.
VCU regained the lead and extended it to 80-78. North Carolina's Henri Veesaar missed the first of two free throws while trailing by two late in overtime. Terrence Hill Jr. then sealed the win with a three-pointer with 15 seconds left.
Hill finished with 34 points for VCU, shooting 13 of 23 from the field and 7 of 10 from three-point range. VCU shot 62% from the field in the second half, outscoring North Carolina 47-36 in that period to force overtime.
The win was VCU's first in the NCAA tournament since a 65-61 first-round victory over Utah State on March 19, 2021.[1][2]
Bon Secours Wellness Arena has previously hosted NCAA tournament games, including second- and third-round contests in 2010.[3]
Sources
- NCAA, "VCU 65, Utah State 61", March 19, 2021, https://www.ncaa.com/game/5922452
- VCU Athletics, "No. 8 seed VCU holds off Utah State, 65-61, to advance to second round", March 19, 2021, https://vcuathletics.com/news/2021/3/19/mens-basketball-no-8-vcu-advances-in-ncaa-tournament.aspx
- Wikipedia, "Bon Secours Wellness Arena", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Secours_Wellness_Arena
