What had already been an exciting, well-played national title game between Villanova and North Carolina turned into a game of the ages in the final minutes.
Villanova rallied from a seven-point deficit early in the second half to lead 67-57 with four and a half minutes to go. Up to this point the game had already featured excellent outside shooting, lead changes, momentum shifts, and all-around competitive basketball. North Carolina's torrid three-point shooting in the first half gave way to a Villanova rally in the second. For one possession, it looked as though Villanova, up by ten, had a chance to take control of the game and win its second national title. But a turnover by the normally sure and steady Ryan Arcidiacono led to a quick 4-0 UNC run that closed the game to 67-61, and anyone familiar with college basketball could sense that this game was going to come down to the wire.
But what no one could have foreseen was how incredibly dramatic the finish would actually be.
Villanova looked still in control with a 70-64 lead going into the final minute of play. But a quick corner three from UNC's Marcus Paige cut the lead to three, and one possession later, Tar Heel big-man Brice Johnson cut it to one. Villanova played sound basketball on the ensuing possession, drew a foul, and knocked down both free throws to extend the lead back to three.
But UNC came up with a loose ball underneath on the other end to close to within one, 72-71. That's when an already terrific game turned into one of the best ever.
Villanova again took care of the basketball, drew a foul, and knocked down both free throws to extend its lead to three. At this point, UNC had to hit a three or the game, and the national title, would go to the Wildcats from Philadelphia.
That's when a sequence of incredible plays led to one of the most memorable endings ever in NCAA tournament championship game history. Paige took a pass on the right wing, double-clutched in mid-air with a defender flying at him, and drained another three-pointer to tie the game with 4.7 seconds to go. In a game of big-time plays and momentum changes, suddenly it looked like the Tar Heels had regained control, and that a sure Villanova victory was headed for overtime.
That's when Arcidiacono zoomed down court, and fed trailing Kris Jenkins, who pulled up from behind the three-point line, let fly a three-pointer with less than a second remaining, and watched with the rest of the college basketball universe as the shot went in with no time left. The final 4.7 seconds saw two of the most incredible, clutch baskets ever in a national title game. Fittingly, a game of momentum shifts and big plays ended with the most dramatic swings in momentum a title game has ever seen. Villanova saw Paige tie the game when victory seemed at hand. Then UNC was left stunned as Jenkins' three turned an apparently dramatic Tar Heel rally to send the game into overtime into a national championship for Villanova.
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