JP Pegues made a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds and No. 13 Furman finished a rally from a 12-point deficit in the second half to defeat fourth-seeded Virginia in another NCAA tournament game in the first round, 68 -67 on Thursday.
The Paladins (28-7), visiting the tournament for the first time in 43 years, advanced to the second round in the South Region, where they will meet San Diego State or Charleston on Saturday.
Kihei Clark, a freshman on Virginia’s 2019 national title-winning team, threw a poor pass that intercepted center field Garrett Hein with seven seconds remaining, setting up Pegues’ starting basket.
Reece Beekman’s deep three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim and Virginia (25-8) was knocked out in the first round for the third time in their last four NCAA tournament appearances as a higher-seeded team – notably losing as the No. . 1 seed to 16th seed UMBC in 2018.
Maryland also got off to a slow start on Thursday morning, overcoming a late layup at the buzzer by Kedrian Johnson to beat West Virginia 67-65 in a first-round game.
Source: LA Times