The Furman Paladins hit a game-winner to stun Virginia in March Madness and sent college hoops fans into a frenzy on Twitter.
It wouldn’t be March Madness without upsets and we already have our first victim in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 4-seed Virginia is out after getting knocked out in dramatic fashion by 13-seed Furman thanks to a dramatic last-second shot.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 😨
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
FURMAN WITH THE STEAL AND 3 TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 2.2 SECONDS REMAINING #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fSCNKUzboq
The key sequence came on a Furman trap off an inbounds pass to Virginia guard Kihei Clark, who tried to fling the ball down the floor to kill the remainder of the clock. The pass was intercepted by the Paladins, who got it into the hands of JP Pegues for the go-ahead three-pointer.
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A desperation shot for the win fell short for Virginia, ending the ACC regular season champion’s run in March Madness after just 40 minutes. The wild finish to the 68-67 game sent college basketball Twitter into a frenzy.
Twitter Reaction to Furman’s upset over Virginia
FURMAN!!!!! MARCH IS THE GREATEST THING EVER pic.twitter.com/9EMSqNCibI
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 16, 2023
VIRGINIA ABSOLUTELY BLOWS IT
— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) March 16, 2023
FURMAN HITS LAST SECOND THREE TO WIN IT pic.twitter.com/xNInCx5WTs
My wife works remote and was in an important meeting for the final minutes of Virginia-Furman.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 16, 2023
I yelled louder than Mel Gibson in Braveheart after the final shot.
Professionally, the tournament is off to a great start.
Personally, she may change the locks by the Sweet 16.
Simply unreal.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 16, 2023
Kihei Clark had one of the headiest plays in 2019 to help SAVE VIRGINIA vs. Purdue on its way to the NCAA Tournament title.
In 2023, he makes a prayer of a pass that lands in the hands of FURMAN AND THE PALADINS PULL OFF AN INSTANT MARCH MADNESS CLASSIC UPSET.
WE DANCE ON!!!!!! DINS WIN!!!!!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UqT4FN97xn
— Furman Basketball (@FurmanHoops) March 16, 2023
They had Furman-Virginia playing on the video board and as Gradey Dick was shooting a free throw Furman hit that go ahead three. The game literally stopped and all the players looked up. Only in March pic.twitter.com/63v6oWgaVc
— Sully Engels (@sullyengels) March 16, 2023
Watching the Furman win spread virally across every 40yo man in this airport lounge is really something.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) March 16, 2023
MADNESS!!!! FURMAN!!! PALADINS!!!
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 16, 2023
As called by @DanScottShow on Furman Paladins radio: pic.twitter.com/nXGsnJyFxd
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 16, 2023
This was an absolutely wild finish for the Paladins, who were playing in their first NCAA Tournament game since 1980 and have now picked up a win in March Madness. Furman will have a bit of time to celebrate before they get ready for their next game on Saturday against the winner of the South Region’s 5-12 matchup between San Diego State and Charleston.
If the Cougars are able to pull off the upset in that game, which is tipping shortly, we could have a 12 vs. 13 matchup with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. That would add even more insanity to what could be a wild 2023 edition of the NCAA Tournament.
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