SOUTH REGIONAL

No. 16 does it! University of Maryland-Baltimore County defeats top-seeded Cavs

Maryland-Baltimore County players celebrate on the bench during No. 16-seeded Retrievers’ victory over top-seeded Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in Charlotte, N.C. It marked the first victory by a 16 seed since the tournament switched from a 48-team bracket in 1985.
Maryland-Baltimore County players celebrate on the bench during No. 16-seeded Retrievers’ victory over top-seeded Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in Charlotte, N.C. It marked the first victory by a 16 seed since the tournament switched from a 48-team bracket in 1985.

MARYLAND-BALTIMORE CO. 74, VIRGINIA 54

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It finally happened -- a No. 16 ousting a No. 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 Retrievers 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 three-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 three-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 an uncontested layup.

A Tony Bennett timeout couldn't stop the bleeding, as Lyles hit two more threes and Sherburne hit one more to extend UMBC's lead to 14 with 14:57 left in the game. Lyles was fouled on a three-point shot and suddenly the Retrievers led by 16.

A corner three-pointer and a layup 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.

This wasn't the first time Virginia struggled as the No. 1 seed. The Cavaliers trailed by five at halftime in 2014 to Coastal Carolina but went on to win 70-59.

NEVADA 87, TEXAS 83, OT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Caleb Martin scored 18 points and made two huge three-pointers in overtime as Nevada rallied to beat Texas 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 came back again after trailing by four early in an overtime session that featured 34 combined points.

Martin’s three-pointer with 2:26 left in overtime gave Nevada its first lead since opening the game on a 5-0 run. Texas’ Matt Coleman took a jumper that went around and out, and Martin hit another three that extended Nevada’s lead to 81-77 with 1:36 left.

After Coleman cut Nevada’s margin to 81-79, Martin passed to twin brother Cody for a layup that made it 83-79 with 53 seconds remaining. Tenth-seeded Texas later got within two on a three-pointer by Kerwin Roach II with 15.5 seconds left, but that’s as close as the Longhorns got.

Caleb Martin also had 10 rebounds and five assists. Cody Martin had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Nevada’s Kendall Stephens had a team-high 22 points.

CINCINNATI 68, GEORGIA STATE 53

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jarron Cumberland had 27 points and 11 rebounds to set career highs in both categories as Cincinnati (31-4) recovered after blowing a 10-point lead in the second half to beat pesky Georgia State.

Gary Clark, the American Athletic Conference player of the year, put Cincinnati back in front by sinking a three-pointer with 9:02 left. Kyle Washington added two consecutive baskets before Jacob Evans III provided the exclamation point by sinking a baseline three-pointer that gave the Bearcats a 56-47 edge with 6:19 remaining. Cincinnati’s lead didn’t drop below seven the rest of the way

KANSAS STATE 69, CREIGHTON 59

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Barry Brown scored 18 points and No. 9 seed Kansas State (23-11) posted a wire-to-wire victory over No. 8 Creighton (21-12) despite playing without leading scorer Dean Wade.

Mike McGuirl added 17 points and Kamau Stokes had 11 as the Wildcats won a first-round NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2012.

At a glance

NCAA TOURNAMENT SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE

TODAY’S GAMES

EAST REGIONAL

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh

Villanova (31-4) vs. Alabama (20-15), 11:10 a.m.

American Airlines Center, Dallas

Texas Tech (25-9) vs. Florida (21-12), 7:40 p.m.

SOUTH REGIONAL

Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho

Buffalo (27-8) vs. Kentucky (25-10), 4:15 p.m.

American Airlines Center, Dallas

Tennessee (26-8) vs. Loyola-Chicago (29-5), 5:10 p.m.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh

Duke (27-7) vs. Rhode Island (26-7), 1:40 p.m.

INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan.

Kansas (28-7) vs. Seton Hall (22-11), 6:10 p.m.

WEST REGIONAL

Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho

Gonzaga (31-4) vs. Ohio State (25-8), 6:45 p.m.

INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan.

Michigan (29-7) vs. Houston (27-7), 8:40 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

EAST REGIONAL

Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Purdue (29-6) vs. Butler (21-13)

Viejas Arena, San Diego

Marshall (25-10) vs. W. Virginia (25-10)

SOUTH REGIONAL

Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.

UMBC (25-10) vs. Kansas State (23-11)

Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

Cincinnati (31-4) vs. Nevada (28-7)

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

Michigan St. (30-4) vs. Syracuse (22-13)

Viejas Arena, San Diego

Auburn (26-7) vs. Clemson (24-9)

WEST REGIONAL

Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.

North Carolina (26-10) vs. Texas A&M (21-12)

Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

Xavier (29-5) vs. Florida State (21-11)

photo

AP/BOB LEVERONE

Virginia guard Isaiah Wilkins (21) is consoled by a teammate after fouling out during the second half of the Cavaliers’ 74-54 loss to Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday in Charlotte, N.C.

Sports on 03/17/2018

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