No. 14 Furman Eliminates No. 3 Virginia in the Most Ridiculous Manner Possible
Virginia just lost in ridiculous fashion. It must be March.
The only school to ever lose as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament found a way to lose as a No. 3 seed to a team that had not been to the Big Dance in 43 years. It all happened thanks to a bone-headed play by an 11th-year senior.
Virginia appeared to weather a late storm by Furman. The Cavaliers kept the Paladins at arm’s length for most of the game, until the SoCon Champs came storming back to take the lead with five minutes remaining. Trailing by three with less than 2:30 to play, Virginia responded with a 6-0 run, almost putting the game out of reach. Almost.
Pandora’s box was opened in the final seconds. With the lead and the ball, all Kihei Clark had to do was wait to get fouled or call a timeout. Instead he blindly launched the ball over his head. Furman intercepted the pass and found JP Pegues who delivered a dagger for his One Shining Moment.
“I want to be in those moments. I was born for those moments,” Pegues said on the court after the upset.
Furman celebrated the five-year anniversary of Virginia’s loss to No. 16 seed UMBC by upsetting the Cavaliers. Perfect. March is simply the best. What a shot. What a win.
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