Photos: North Carolina gives up a big lead and falls to VCU in NCAA Tournament
By Robert Willett and
Ethan Hyman
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7), Isaiah Denis (5) and head coach Hubert Davis walk off the court after VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Ethan Hyman
ehyman@newsobserver.com
The No. 6-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead to lose to No. 11-seeded Virginia Commonwealth 82-78 in OT on Thursday at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. This was the largest first-round comeback in NCAA Tournament history.
UNC led by as many as 19 points with 15 minutes remaining in the game but allowed he Rams cut their deficit to two with a 16-3 run over a five-minute period late in the game. VCU’s guards Nyk Lewis, Michael Belle and Hill — scored all of VCU’s points in that run,
North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (13) walks off the court after VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7), Elijah Davis and head coach Hubert Davis walk off the court after VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina center Henri Veesaar (13) reacts after missing two free throws in overtime, securing a 82-78 victory for VCU, on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina center Henri Veesaar (13) reacts after missing two free throws in overtime, securing a 82-78 victory for VCU, on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (13) loses control of the ball, turning it over, with three seconds left in regulation during VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) launches a three-point shot in with :15 seconds to play in overtime to to take an 80-78 lead over North Carolina on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Hill scored 34 points in their 82-78 victory. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. (6) makes a step-back three-pointer to give VCU a 80-78 lead with 15 seconds left in overtime during VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) looses control of the ball in overtime against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis cleans his white board after diagraming plays during the final timeout in overtime against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts watches the overtime period between the Tar Heels and VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
With the game tied at 75, North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) misses a three point shot with :02 to play in the second half against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) attempts a three-pointer as time expires in regulation during VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis huddles with his players after VCU cut the Tar Heels’ 19 point lead to five, late in the second half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) reacts after missing a free throw in overtime against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) leads his teammate down court as VCU cuts into the Tar Heels’ 19 point lead in the second half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis watches in the closing moments of VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, out with a broken thumb, talks with teammate Isaiah Denis (5), left, as Elijah Davis (6) covers his head, as the overtime period against VCU begins on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) misses a layup with the score tied 77-77 in overtime against VCU, on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) celebrates after slamming in two during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) heads to the basket as VCU’s Michael Belle (8) defends during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (13) heads to hug head coach Hubert Davis after VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) heads to slam in two during VCU’s 82-78 overtime victory over UNC in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis wipes his face after huddling with his team during a time out in the second half against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) passes out of the pressure by VCU’s Lazar Djokovic (17) and Barry Evans (5) during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis reacts late in the second half as VCU cut a 19 point lead to four points, on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Seth Trimble (7) takes the ball from VCU’s Michael Belle (8) during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina center Henri Veesaar (13) reacts after sinking a three-point basket to give the Tar Heels a lead over VCU in the first half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis huddles with his team during a time out in the first half against VCU on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Jaydon Young (4) tries to steal the ball from VCU’s Jadrian Tracey (2) during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina guard Derek Dixon (3) reacts after sinking a three-point basket against VCU in the first half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
VCU’s Brandon Jennings (0) blocks the shot by North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (13) as VCU’s Lazar Djokovic (17) also defends during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis yells to his players during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina's Henri Veesaar (13) fights for the ball with VCU’s Barry Evans (5) during the first half of UNC’s game against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina center Henri Veesaar (13) defends VCU guard Brandon Jennings (0) in the first half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
VCU guard Jadrian Tracey (2) recovers a loose ball from North Carolina guard Jaydon Young (4) in the first half on Thursday, March 18, 2026, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 8:03 PM.
.JPG "RAL_UNCVCU16-031926-EDH (1).JPG")
