Last Updated on March 19, 2026 9:30 pm
North Carolina's March Madness Thursday produced a stunning upset, a comeback win, and a heartbreaking overtime loss — a full range of emotions for the state's college basketball fans in a single afternoon and evening.
The day's signature moment came in Portland, Oregon, where No. 12 seed High Point University pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament's opening round, stunning No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82. The Panthers trailed by double digits in the first half and by as many as seven in the second half before rallying to force a frantic final possession. Chase Johnston delivered the heroics, first hitting a three-pointer and then, with 11 seconds left, converting a go-ahead layup — his first two-point field goal of the entire season — to seal the win. Rob Martin led High Point with 23 points. It was the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in its second-ever trip to the Big Dance. The Panthers, based in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, entered the tournament at 30-4 and riding a 14-game winning streak.
In Albany, No. 1 seed Duke survived a first-half scare to advance, defeating 16-seed Siena 71-65. The Blue Devils trailed 43-32 at halftime but outscored the Saints 39-22 in the second half to advance. Cayden Boozer led Duke with 19 points, while Cameron Boozer added 22 points and 13 rebounds.
The evening's most dramatic game ended in disappointment for Tar Heel fans. No. 6 seed North Carolina fell to No. 11 seed VCU 82-78 in overtime in Greenville, South Carolina — a game neither team had experienced all season, as both entered without having played a single overtime contest. Henri Veesaar led UNC with 26 points and 10 rebounds. But it was VCU's Terrence Hill Jr. who was the night's defining player, finishing with 34 points. Hill hit a go-ahead 33-foot three-pointer late in overtime, assisted by Nyk Lewis, to put VCU ahead for good. Lewis then sealed the win at the free-throw line, hitting both ends of a one-and-one to close out the upset.
High Point advances to the second round to face the winner of No. 4 Arkansas and No. 13 Hawai'i. Duke will face No. 9 TCU. VCU moves on while UNC's season comes to a close at 24-9.
