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GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Terrence Hill Jr. made a stepback 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime and 11th-seeded VCU erased from a 19-point second-half deficit to stun sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Hill finished 7 for 10 from 3-point range and scored 20 of 34 points after halftime as VCU (28-7) won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2016.
Nyk Lewis added 16 points, including two clutch free throws, to seal the game for the Rams, who’ll face the winner of No. 14 Penn and No. 3 Illinois in the second round on Saturday.
Henri Veesaar had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-8), who went 0-3 after star Caleb Wilson was ruled out for the season with an injury.
In overtime, Seth Trimble made 1 of 2 free throws with 35 seconds left to put the Tar Heels up 78-77.
But Hill made his crucial 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key to give VCU an 80-78 lead.
Veesar was fouled with 4.2 seconds left, but missed the first of two free throws. He was forced to try to throw the ball off the rim with the second shot, but missed and VCU got the ball underneath the North Carolina basket.
Lewis was fouled and hit two free throws to ice the game.
North Carolina built a 19-point lead with 15 minutes remaining before before VCU came stor...
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