Furman records first upset of 2023 March Madness, taking down Virginia with wild late sequence

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The 2023 NCAA men's basketball tournament has its first big upset.

No. 13 Furman went on an improbable run late to upset No. 4 Virginia, 68-67.

Virginia led 50-38 with just under 11 minutes to go, its largest lead of the game. But the Paladins went on a 19-4 run to take a 3-point lead — their first of the game — with 5:02 to go, and it was a battle from there.

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Furman guard JP Pegues, third from right, celebrates with the team after defeating Virginia in a first-round game in the NCAA tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Furman’s lead never got past three as both teams continued to exchange buckets for the next several minutes. Virginia actually led by two with 12.3 seconds to go.

But a wild, errant Cavalier pass was intercepted by Furman’s Garrett Hien, and he dished it to JP Pegues for a wide-open 3-pointer to give the Paladins a 68-67 lead with 2.4 seconds left. Virginia missed a three at the buzzer, resulting in their first-round exit.

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"I knew when we got the stop, my teammates would be looking for shooters. … Specifically, he looks for me all the time," Pegues told CBS after the game. "My teammates believe me. They trust me. I love them back, and I have full confidence.

"I missed all night … but winners make big shots, and I call myself a winner. I want to be in those moments. I was born for those moments."

The Furman Paladins' bench reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at Amway