With the game world closed for the next few months, at least, it’s hard not to think about how many wonderful memories the game has given us? I have been blessed to cover more incredible moments and games in my sports career than I can begin to count.
The shortlist includes 15-over-2 upsets and four World Series Game 7s (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019) in the NCAA Tournament (Leh and Middle Tennessee). The one that tops them all, though?
The day the impossible happened, I was sitting in the court. March 16, 2018: The day the 16-seed defeated the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County traveled to Charlotte to play the role of the Virginia Cavaliers, who were ranked No. 1 in the tournament that year.
UPS limit by seed
15 vs 2 | 14 vs 3 | 13 vs 4 | 12 vs 5
UMBC dominated the best team in the country that day, winning by 20 points (74-54) in a game that was in no way close. This was not how it was supposed to be, how the small 16-seed was going to stun the 1-seed Goliath in the end. Should have been a buzzer, or a hold-on-to-your-seat finals in a few minutes as the clock was slowly going to 0:00.
I’ve seen enough March Madness upsets in my day – FaganJinx is real, people – feel great for developing these things.
This competition was unlike anything I had seen. The game was tied 21-21, at halftime, and even though the Cavaliers were not winning, the game was being played at their own pace. It was shortly before Virginia – who was 31–2, rolled through the powerful ACC with a 17–1 record and crucified for the ACC tournament title – asserted his desire.
But then, to borrow from my buzzer file that day…
UMBC came out of halftime as if it were playing Delaware State, not the best team in the nation. Joe Sherburn drove to the rim, scored and fouled. He made a free throw to put the retrievers up 24-21 and then knocked a 3-pointer.
27–21.
Lace done by KJ Maurya. 3-pointer by Jasler Lyles.
32–24.
3-pointer by Sherburne. Three free throws from Lyles.
38–24.
Coating done by Lyle’s. Another retrenchment by Lyles.
45–29.
They were tireless. Confident Aggressive. Undocked
The result was not far from doubt for the final stretch of that unforgettable game. For the biggest mess in NCAA tournament history, the fact that I had the time to record a long buzzer story – the columns recorded on the buzzer in short form in general – was unbelievable. We somehow went from UMBC and needed a miracle to win Virginia, the same kind of miraculous event.
MORE: Top 16 # Phaganzex Upset Rankings
The Retrievers spent the last 10 minutes and did three things: expanding their leads, ear-to-ear smirking and laughing as the crowd in Charlotte – it was the last game of the day, starting shortly after 9:30 p.m. The time was ET – going mildly insane.
ULC star player Lyles was on 23 points in the second half with 28 points. Only one player scored more than 28 points all season against Virginia, and the Lyles needed only 11 shots from the field to get 28 of them.
“I was in a field, man,” Locker told me in the locker room after the game. “I arrive in those areas from time to time. I don’t think anyone can stop me when I get to that area. My teammates to get the ball for me and the coaches to give me that confidence.”
The most points allowed Virginia to lose 68 in a game all season, to West Virginia on 5 December. UMBC scored 74 – 53 in the second half! The Cavaliers held opponents to 53 or fewer points for the entire game 15 times during the season.
“Jordan Grant said,” to get in, and beat the No. 1 team in the country – No. feeling.”
He was not wrong then, and he is no longer wrong.
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