March Madness 2026: Second Round – Keys to Victory & Live Updates

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Terrence Hill Jr.’s improbable step-back three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining in overtime propelled VCU to an 82-78 upset victory over sixth-seeded North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday night. The 11th-seeded Rams erased a 19-point second-half deficit, marking the seventh-largest comeback in NCAA tournament history and the biggest since 2018.

Hill finished with 20 points in the second half and overtime combined, shooting 7-for-10 from beyond the arc for the game. Nyk Lewis sealed the win with two clutch free throws after a missed free throw attempt by UNC’s Henri Veesaar with just 4.2 seconds left on the clock. Veesaar, who finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, was forced to attempt a desperation shot off the rim on his second free throw, which missed, giving VCU possession.

The victory sends VCU (28-7) to the second round of the tournament for the first time since 2016, where they will face the winner of the matchup between No. 14 Penn and No. 3 Illinois on Saturday. For North Carolina (25-8), it marks their third first-round exit in the last five NCAA tournaments, and their first loss after building a 19-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

The game was a tale of two halves for North Carolina. After building a commanding lead, the Tar Heels faltered as VCU’s relentless pressure and Hill’s scoring surge began to chip away at the deficit. UNC struggled to find answers defensively as Hill repeatedly found open looks, ultimately proving to be the difference maker.

The Tar Heels were playing without star Caleb Wilson, who was ruled out for the season with an injury, a factor that undoubtedly impacted their performance down the stretch. Despite Veesaar’s strong individual performance, North Carolina’s offense became stagnant, and they were unable to respond to VCU’s late-game push.

VCU’s comeback was fueled by their ability to capitalize on North Carolina’s missed free throws and turnovers. The Rams’ aggressive defense forced several key possessions, allowing them to stay within striking distance even when facing a seemingly insurmountable lead.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Duke managed to avoid an upset against Siena, while Michigan secured a win over Saint Louis. The second round of the tournament continues on Saturday with a slate of intriguing matchups, including Illinois versus Penn and Michigan versus Saint Louis.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s games, Michigan will need to leverage its size advantage on offense and contain Saint Louis’s versatile attack. According to ESPN analysts, the Wolverines must dominate inside and hit their three-pointers to advance to the Sweet 16. Saint Louis, will need to be efficient from beyond the arc and exhaust Michigan’s frontcourt with an inside-outside game.

Michigan State as well secured a victory against North Dakota State, relying heavily on their dominant frontcourt. The Spartans will face Louisville, where the key to success will be controlling the offensive glass and limiting turnovers. Louisville, meanwhile, will need to produce 3-pointers and find ways to attack Michigan State’s size.

Duke will look to build on their second-half performance against Siena, needing to rediscover their offensive rhythm without Caleb Foster and maintain a stronger defensive intensity. Their matchup against TCU will hinge on their ability to control the paint and get contributions from Isaiah Evans and Cameron Boozer.

TCU will aim to exploit Duke’s vulnerability inside, particularly with Patrick Ngongba II potentially unavailable. They’ll need to establish a strong presence in the paint and capitalize on their 3-point shooting to challenge Duke.

Illinois, boasting the nation’s top-ranked offense, will face VCU. The Illini will look to overwhelm the Rams with their scoring prowess, relying on David Mirkovic and their overall offensive firepower. VCU, fresh off their stunning upset, will need another stellar performance from Terrence Hill Jr. And a repeat of their resilient defensive effort to have a chance.

Finally, Arkansas will seize on High Point, with the Razorbacks looking to leverage their strong playmaking duo of Darius Acuff Jr. And Meleek Thomas. High Point, riding a 23-game winning streak, will need to replicate their success against Wisconsin by forcing turnovers and hitting 3-pointers.