15 classic March Madness games you need to watch on YouTube

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shots the winning during the NCAA College Basketball Tournament Championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium on April 04, 2016 in Houston, Texas. The Wildcats won 77-74. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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14. NC State vs. UCLA – 1974 Final Four

If you’re looking for historical significance, this game has it in spades. This contest between NC State and UCLA in the 1974 Final Four brought an end to the longest winning streak in men’s college basketball history.

Entering the Final Four, the UCLA Bruins had ripped off 39 straight wins in the NCAA Tournament dating all the way back to 1963. The seven-time reigning national champions were widely expected to beat NC State, who they had already topped by 18 points earlier in the season.

That was the only loss the Wolfpack had suffered entering the game and they still found themselves in a dogfight with the Bruins. The contest needed overtime, with UCLA building a seven-point lead early in the extra session.

That margin didn’t intimidate the Wolfpack, who rallied to win 80-77 to stun the Bruins and snap their run atop the college basketball world. NC State rode the momentum of that win to the championship, topping Marquette to cut down the nets in Greensboro.

UCLA legend Bill Walton called this game the most disappointing loss of his career and the Bruins responded by winning it all again the very next year. That run could have been nine straight, however, if not for the strong performance out of NC State in this one.

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