In this history of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, a #16 seed had never beaten a #1 seed. That was the challenge the champions of America East faced Friday night, as the University of Maryland, Baltimore-County Retrievers faced the tournaments overall #1 seed, the Virginia Cavaliers.
#16 seeds all time were 0-135 in first round games against a top seed. All that changed on Friday night however. Jairus Lyles scored a game high 28 points, as UMBC put four starters in double figures to stun Virginia 74-54 in a South Region first round game at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
UMBC shot 54 percent from the floor, including 12-24 from the three point arc to help pull off the biggest upset in NCAA history. Virginia shot 41 percent from the field, including only 4-22 from the arc (18%). The 74 points were the most Virginia had allowed all season. The Cavaliers were led by Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy who had 15 points a piece. Virginia ends their season at 31-3.
UMBC (25-10), also got 14 points and six rebounds from Joe Sherburne, 12 points and 10 rebounds from Arkel Lamar, and K.J. Maura also added 10 points. The Retrievers were the 177th ranked team in the country coming into the game, and facing the top team in the nation.
UMBC is now off to the second round and a chance to get into the sweet 16, when they face #9 seed Kansas State Sunday night at 7:45 p.m.
