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15 March Madness Upsets That Left Fans Stunned

Michael Saechang/Wikipedia

March Madness brings out the unexpected, and that’s what makes it thrilling!  Take Northern Iowa’s buzzer-beater against Texas in 2016 or Florida Gulf Coast’s “Dunk City” run in 2013. Every year, underdogs challenge the big names, and we see some amazing upsets. Let’s look at 15 unforgettable moments that stunned fans and created legends on the basketball court!

UMBC vs. Virginia (2018)

Maryland GovPics/Wikipedia

Virginia was the number one seed, the best of the best. But UMBC had other plans and crushed them 74-54. This was the first time in history a 16-seed knocked out a 1-seed!  It wasn’t just an upset—it changed the way we think about March Madness forever.

NC State vs. Houston (1983)

Malcolm Emmons/Imagn

NC State wasn’t supposed to stand a chance against Houston’s powerhouse team. But in a thrilling 54-52 victory, Lorenzo Charles grabbed an airball and dunked it at the buzzer to win the national championship. The Wolfpack pulled off the impossible and secured their place in March Madness history forever.

Villanova vs. Georgetown (1985)

Malcolm Emmons/Imagn

No one expected this scrappy underdog to beat the Hoyas, who were defending champions! Villanova played the perfect game against Georgetown to win 66-64. Led by Patrick Ewing, Georgetown had a dominant defense, but Villanova shocked everyone by shooting a record-breaking 78.6% from the field. 

Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown (2013)

Justin Ford/Imagn

Florida Gulf Coast, also known as “Dunk City,” stunned second-seeded Georgetown with high-flying dunks and crazy fast plays and won 78-68. Watching it was one of the most fun upsets as this team instantly became a fan favorite.

George Mason vs. UConn (2006)

Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel/Imagn

Against all odds, 11-seed George Mason, took down powerhouse UConn 86-84 in overtime and punched their ticket to the Final Four. This Cinderella story had fans cheering for the underdog, and George Mason proved that anything can happen in March Madness.

Davidson vs. Gonzaga (2008)

Dave Hogg/Wkipedia

Behind a young Steph Curry’s incredible basket-making, Davidson pulled off a stunner against Gonzaga, winning 82-76. Curry’s 40 points sent Davidson on a magical run, and this game showed the world a future NBA superstar.

Lehigh vs. Duke (2012)

SneakinDeacon/Wikipedia

In a shocking 75-70 upset, Lehigh, a 15-seed, sent powerhouse Duke packing. Lehigh’s fearless play, led by future NBA star CJ McCollum, left everyone stunned and made this game one of the biggest David vs. Goliath stories ever.

Middle Tennessee vs. Michigan State (2016)

Ryan Schroeder/Wikipedia

A game that shocked the nation saw Middle Tennessee take down Michigan State in a bracket-shattering 90-81 win. Far from a close call, this 15-seed came in strong and overpowered one of the tournament’s top contenders, which left everyone in disbelief.

Santa Clara vs. Arizona (1993)

Keith Allison/Wikipedia

Arizona came in hot, but Santa Clara’s 15-seed squad shocked them 64-61. Led by a freshman point guard named Steve Nash, Santa Clara’s win set the tone for one of the biggest tournament surprises ever.

Norfolk State vs. Missouri (2012)

Kareem Elgazzar/Imagn

As a 15-seed, Norfolk State stunned Missouri 86-84, which made them the first 15-seed to win a tournament game in nearly a decade. The last time it happened? Florida Gulf Coast’s “Dunk City” in 2013. The upset rocked the brackets and Norfolk State became the team to talk about.

Harvard vs. New Mexico (2013)

PerryPlanet/Wikipedia

Harvard’s basketball team isn’t known for tournament success, but they shocked 3-seed New Mexico 68-62. This marked Harvard’s first tournament win ever, and it had fans buzzing about their incredible smarts and skills!

Cleveland State vs. Indiana (1986)

JonRidinger/Wikipedia

Cleveland State, a 14-seed, knocked out Bobby Knight’s Indiana team 83-79 in one of the biggest upsets of the ’80s. Their relentless energy and confidence caught Indiana off guard, which made this one for the history books.

Texas Western vs. Kentucky (1966)

Wikipedia

Texas Western beat Kentucky 72-65 to win the championship. This wasn’t just an upset because of the teams’ ranks; Texas Western shattered barriers by becoming the first team to win the title with an all-Black starting lineup, a groundbreaking moment that forever transformed the landscape of basketball.

Richmond vs. Syracuse (1991)

HISTORICAL ARCHIVE/Imagn

Richmond became the first 15-seed to win a game in the tournament, defeating Syracuse 73-69. This upset paved the way for future upsets and proved that even the smallest schools can make a big impact on the big stage.

UCLA vs. Princeton (1996)

Associated Students of UCLA/Wikipedia

Defending champions UCLA fell to Princeton in a shocking 43-41 defeat, one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Princeton’s disciplined “backdoor cut” offense and deliberate pace slowed the game down, completely frustrating UCLA’s fast-paced style.

Written by Castillo Rancon

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