Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

VCU Upsets North Carolina in Overtime Thriller

3/20/2026

28 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament's first round on March 19, 2026, as the 11th-seeded Rams rallied from a 19-point deficit.
Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU with 34 points, including a 3 with 15 seconds left in OT.
Henri Veesaar scored 26 points for the Tar Heels, who were seeded sixth and failed to advance.
VCU will face Illinois or Penn next.

History

Historical Context

In 1985, Villanova University, an eighth seed, achieved a historic upset by defeating the defending champion Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 in the NCAA Championship game. This victory marked Villanova as the lowest-seeded team to win the title, highlighting the tournament's unpredictability. The trend of lower-seeded teams challenging higher seeds continues to captivate fans and shape the NCAA Tournament's legacy.

1 of 2

Story summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) defeated North Carolina 82-78 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament's first round on March 19, 2026, as the 11th-seeded Rams rallied from a 19-point deficit.
Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU with 34 points, including a 3 with 15 seconds left in OT.
Henri Veesaar scored 26 points for the Tar Heels, who were seeded sixth and failed to advance.
VCU will face Illinois or Penn next.

1 / 2