CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It finally happened — a 16 ousting a 1 in March Madness.
The University of Maryland-Baltimore County stunned the college basketball world by pulling off the most shocking upset in men’s NCAA Tournament history, hammering Virginia 75-54 on Friday night to become the first No. 16 seed ever to beat a No. 1 seed.
Virginia entered the NCAA Tournament as tourney favorites — the No. 1 overall seed after going 31-2 this season, including 20-1 in ACC competition.
And really, who was UMBC anyway — a team most glanced over, or simply didn’t know when they filled out their NCAA bracket?
But UMBC didn’t just beat Virginia, it dominated throughout the second half. Senior guard Jairus Lyles scored 28 points and the Retreivers cruised to an easy victory before racing off the floor together in their yellow-and-black uniforms with one finger pointed toward the sky.
“These are the moments that you dream of,” Lyles said.
Chaminade’s 77-72 stunner over Ralph Sampson and then No. 1-ranked Cavaliers in 1982 in Hawaii was generally considered the most remarkable upset in college basketball history. But that was the regular season.
This came when it mattered the most — in the NCAA Tournament.
The Cavaliers couldn’t get anything generated on offense and the nation’s top-ranked defense couldn’t contain the American East Conference champions who won their conference tournament at the buzzer.
“Unbelievable — it’s really all you can say,” UMBC coach Ryan Odom said.
The 74 points were the most Virginia had allowed this year. Virginia had allowed just 54.3 points per game this season, the fewest in the nation.
Lyles was the catalyst.
He diced up Virginia’s defense in the second half, getting to the hole easily on six different occasions and making easy layups. He also knocked down a pair of 3-pointers as UMBC built a 16-point lead.
Lyles finished with 23 of his points in the second half and Joe Sherburne finished with 14 points.
The game was tied at halftime, but the Retrievers came out confident and motivated in the second half and built a double-digit lead that Virginia could never erase.
Sherburne was huge early in the second half and made believers out of everyone.
He scored on an and-1 drive and then knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key after a behind-the-back pass from KJ Maura. After Virginia made a foul shot, the shifty 5-foot-8, 140-pound Maura drove the lane for uncontested layup.
A Tony Bennett timeout couldn’t stop the bleeding, as Lyles hit two more 3’s and Sherburne hit one more to extend UMBC’s lead to 14 with 14:57 left in the game. Lyles was fouled on a 3-point shot and suddenly the Retrievers led by 16.
A corner 3-pointer and a layups off a fastbreak by Arkel Lamer gave UMBC its biggest lead at 67-48. From there, the party was on as chants of “UMBC” rang through the arena.
It was yet another early exit for the Cavaliers in a season that seemed to hold so much promise.
Xavier 102, Texas Southern 83
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Xavier Musketeers looked every bit like a No. 1 seed their first time around in the role at an NCAA Tournament.
J.P. Macura scored 18 of his career-high 29 points in the first half, and Xavier (29-5) routed No. 16 seed Texas Southern (16-20) 102-83 Friday night in their tournament opener in the West Region.
The Musketeers will play either No. 9 seed Florida State or eighth-seeded Missouri on Sunday for a berth in the Sweet 16.
Trevon Bluiett added 26 points, and Kerem Kanter had 24 for the Big East’s regular season champs.
Cincinnati 68,
Georgia State 53
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jarron Cumberland set career highs of 27 points and 11 rebounds as Cincinnati recovered after blowing a 10-point lead in the second half.
The second-seeded Bearcats (31-4) advanced to play seventh-seeded Nevada.
After trailing 42-32 early in the second half, 15th-seeded Georgia State (24-11) rallied to take a pair of one-point leads, its last one coming on a driving bank shot from D’Marcus Simonds with 9:30 left.
Purdue 74,
Cal State Fullerton 48
DETROIT (AP) — Purdue center Isaac Haas broke his right elbow during a win over Cal State Fullerton and will miss the rest of the NCAA Tournament. Elida graduate Dakota Mathias finished with eight points, four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals for the second-seeded Boilermakers (29-6), who will play Butler on Sunday.
Marshall 81,
Wichita State 75
SAN DIEGO — Jon Elmore scored 27 points and 13th-seeded Marshall (25-10) toppled fourth-seeded Wichita State (25-8) for its first NCAA Tournament victory.
West Virginia 85,
Murray State 68
SAN DIEGO — Jevon Carter scored 21 points, had eight assists and six steals as No. 5 seed West Virginia (25-10) overwhelmed 12th-seeded Murray State (26-6).
Butler 79, Arkansas 62
DETROIT — Kelan Martin scored 27 points and Kamar Baldwin added 24 to lift 10th-seeded Butler (21-13) over seventh-seeded Arkansas (23-12).
Kansas State 69,
Creighton 59
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Barry Brown scored 18 points and ninth-seeded Kansas State (23-11) never trailed despite playing without top scorer Dean Wade.
Marcus Foster, thrown off the Kansas State team after the 2015 season for multiple violations of team rules, finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting for Creighton (21-12).
Michigan State 82,
Bucknell 78
DETROIT — Miles Bridges outlasted Zach Thomas, scoring 29 points and grabbing nine rebounds to help third-seeded Michigan State (30-4) beat Bucknell (25-10).
Auburn 62,
College of Charleston 58
SAN DIEGO — Jared Harper made a clutch 3-pointer with 1:17 to go — his only basket of the game — and Auburn (26-7) held off No. 13 College of Charleston (26-8).
UNC 84, Lipscomb 66
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kenny Williams scored 18 points and defending national champion and second-seeded North Carolina (26-10) took its time before opening up to beat the 15th-seeded Bisons (23-10).
Texas A&M 73,
Providence 69
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Admon Gilder scored 18 points to help the seventh-seeded Aggies (21-12) hold off the 10th-seeded Friars (21-14).
Nevada 87, Texas 83 (OT)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Caleb Martin scored 18 points and made two huge 3-pointers in overtime as seventh-seeded Nevada rallied for its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2007.
Nevada (28-7) erased a 14-point, second-half deficit and tied it at 68 when Jordan Caroline hit one of two free throws with 3.8 seconds left in regulation. The Wolf Pack trailed by four early in an overtime period that featured 34 total points.
Kerwin Roach II had a career-high 26 points for Texas (19-15).
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