Virginia Commonwealth University defeated the University of North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 19, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.[1]
The 11th-seeded Rams overcame a 19-point deficit from the second half, when the sixth-seeded Tar Heels led with 15 minutes remaining in regulation.[1]
Terrence Hill Jr. scored 34 points for VCU on 13-of-23 field goal shooting, including 7-of-10 from three-point range. He tied the game at 75 with a layup with 11 seconds left in regulation and hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime to secure the lead.[1]
North Carolina's Seth Trimble missed a three-point attempt at the regulation buzzer. In overtime, Nyk Lewis scored a layup for a 77-75 VCU lead with 2:08 remaining. Trimble tied the score on a free throw but missed the second attempt after being fouled on a layup. Henri Veesaar missed the first of two free throws while trailing 80-78.[1]
VCU outscored North Carolina 47-36 in the second half, shooting 62% from the field and 7-of-10 from three-point range.[1]
- Final score: VCU 82, North Carolina 78 (OT)
- VCU leading scorer: Terrence Hill Jr. 34 points (13-23 FG, 7-10 3PT)
- Second-half scoring: VCU 47, UNC 36
- Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena (capacity 10,431)
The VCU Rams compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The North Carolina Tar Heels represent the Atlantic Coast Conference. Bon Secours Wellness Arena has previously hosted NCAA tournament games.
Sources
- Fox News Digital, Rams erase 19-point deficit to stun Tar Heels in NCAA Tournament first round, March 20, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/
