Fourth-seeded Virginia knocked out by Furman
JP Pegues made a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining, and No. 13 seed Furman completed a rally from a 12-point second-half deficit to hand fourth-seeded Virginia another first-round NCAA Tournament loss, 68-67 on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.
Making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 43 years, the Paladins (28-7) advanced to the second round in the South Region, where they will play fifth-seeded San Diego State on Saturday.
“All year we've been saying that this team just knows how to win . ... It's an unbelievable moment,” Furman coach Bob Richey said.
“This game is — interesting might be the word I'd use,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “You feel like, we got it, we got it, and then all of a sudden in a moment's notice, it changes at the end. That's tough.”
Furman earned its first tournament berth since 1980 by beating Chattanooga for the Southern Conference title, capping a season-long quest to redeem itself after losing the league's automatic berth to the Mocs in overtime on a 35-foot buzzer-beater last year.
“I couldn't help but go back when I saw the shot in the air to a year ago. It's just a reminder, like we said it all year, count on joy, and you don't know timing of things . ... This team has persevered, and they did it today,” Richey said.
In the aftermath of last year's disappointment, Jalen Slawson and his best friend, Mike Bothwell, both decided to return for their fifth seasons with the Paladins. Slawson took over the game when Bothwell fouled out with just over six minutes remaining, scoring nine consecutive points to turn a 54-48 deficit into Furman's first lead of the game, 5754, with 5:02 to go.
Slawson, the Southern Conference player of the year, finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Kihei Clark, who starred as a freshman on Virginia's 2019 national title-winning team, threw a bad pass that Garrett Hien intercepted at midcourt with 7 seconds to go, setting up Pegues' goahead basket.
Reece Beekman's deep 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim and Virginia (25-8) was eliminated in the first round as the higher-seeded team for the third time in its past four NCAA tournaments — most notably its loss as a No. 1 seed to 16th-seeded UMBC in 2018.
NO. 1 ALABAMA 96, NO. 16 TEXAS A&M CC 75 >> The Crimson Tide buried the Islanders under an early 3-point onslaught, launching the NCAA tournament's top seed to a first-round romp in Birmingham, Ala. even with star freshman Brandon Miller going scoreless.
Alabama (30-5) hit 10 first-half 3s in a predictably easy win over the Islanders (24-11).
Nick Pringle, who came in averaging 3 points a game, scored 17 and had 13 rebounds.
NO. 5 SAN DIEGO STATE 63, NO. 12 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 57 >> Matt Bradley scored 17 points, including two free throws in the final minute, and the Aztecs held on to beat the Cougars (31-4) in Orlando, Fla.
San Diego State (28-6) won its first game in the Big Dance since 2015, ending a four-game losing streak in the tournament and snapping an 11-game skid for the Mountain West Conference.
NO. 8 MARYLAND 67, NO. 9 WEST VIRGINIA 65 >> The Terrapins overcame a sluggish start to beat the Mountaineers (19-15) in Birmingham, Ala.
Kedrian Johnson led all scorers with 27 points, but his potential winner bounced off the side of the rim as the horn sounded, allowing Maryland (22-12) to advance.
NO. 7 MISSOURI 76, NO. 10 UTAH STATE 65 >> The Tigers (25-9) used a second-half scoring spurt from Kobe Brown to win their first NCAA Tournament game in 13 years, beating the Aggies (26-9) in Sacramento.
Brown hit three 3-pointers in a span of just over three minutes to fuel a 13-2 run that turned a twopoint deficit into a 62-53 lead.
NO. 1 KANSAS 96, NO. 16 HOWARD 68 >> Jalen Wilson had 20 points and seven rebounds for the defending national champion Jayhawks, who allowed absent and recovering coach Bill Self to rest during an easy victory over the Bison in Des Moines, Iowa.
Gradey Dick had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Kansas (28-7).
Shy Odom had 15 points and eight rebounds for Howard (22-13). NO. 8 ARKANSAS 73, NO. 9 ILLINOIS 63 >> Ricky Council IV scored 18 points and the Razorbacks (21-13) topped the Fighting Illini (20-13) in Des Moines, Iowa.
NO. 7 NORTHWESTERN 75, NO. 10 BOISE ST. 67 >> Boo Buie scored 22 points to lead the Wildcats (2211) to a win at Sacramento in the school's second appearance ever in the NCAA tournament.
The Broncos (24-10) are still searching for their first tournament win, losing their opener for the ninth time in as many tries.
Midwest Region NO. 9 AUBURN 83, NO. 8 IOWA 75 >>
Johni Broome had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Tigers beat the Hawkeyes in Birmingham, Ala.
Auburn (21-12) made 11 of 12 free throws in the final four minutes.
Payton Sandford scored 21 points for Iowa (19-14).
NO. 2 TEXAS 81, NO. 15 COLGATE 61 >> Sir'Jabari Rice scored 23 points and the Longhorns shut down the Raiders (26-9) in Des Moines.
Texas (27-8) shot 13 for 23 from 3-point range. Marcus Carr finished with 17 points and Dylan Disu had 17 points and nine rebounds.
East Region NO. 5 DUKE 74, NO. 12 ORAL ROBERTS 51 >>
Jeremy Roach scored 23 points and the Blue Devils (278) rolled in Orlando in the school's first NCAA tournament game since Jon Scheyer took over for Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Oral Roberts (30-5) entered the tournament on a nation-leading 17-game winning streak.