Virginia wins National Championship over Texas Tech in overtime classic

Anyone expecting a boring National Championship Game between Virginia and Texas Tech got anything but that.

So much for a boring National Championship Game that no one wanted to watch. Virginia and Texas Tech delivered an instant classic that went to overtime before Virginia was crowned national champs.

Tony Bennett’s team won 85-77 one year after losing to No. 16 UMBC in the first round. Their road to redemption is complete as this is their first national championship for the men’s basketball team in program history.

This marked the eighth National Championship to go to overtime and the first since 2008 when Kansas beat Memphis. It was also the first national championship where both teams made at least 10 three-pointers.

The defense was the expectation but the 32-29 first half was the highest-scoring first half of the Final Four this year. It was a half of runs with Virginia jumping on Texas Tech first, Tech responding with an 18-4 run to overcome a 10-point deficit, and Virginia hitting a three to close the half and take a three-point lead.

De’Andre Hunter took over in the second half with 22 of his 27 points coming in the second half and overtime. He also locked down Jarrett Culver on the defensive side, limiting him to 15 points on 5-of-22 shooting and 0-of-6 from 3-point range. Kyle Guy chipped in with 24 points and Ty Jerome nearly had a triple-double with 16 points, eight rebounds and nine rebounds.

Virginia was able to solve Texas Tech’s stifling defense that led them to their first National Championship Game in Men’s basketball history.

But Texas Tech got a taste of their own medicine against Virginia’s defense, especially by Hunter who dominated, improving his NBA Draft stock, and it was the primary reason the Cavaliers are cutting down the nets from U.S. Bank Stadium.