NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 67 NCAA Tournament games from 2019

3. #1 Virginia 80, #3 Purdue 75 (Elite Eight)

For the Cavaliers, making the Final Four after last year’s embarrassing loss marked an incredible comeback story (which wouldn’t end here). They survived a crazy game by Carsen Edwards (42 points, 10 3-pointers) and only forced overtime on a desperation jumper by Mamadi Diakite at the buzzer. The Virginia defense couldn’t limit Purdue’s offense (49.1% from the field), but they had an answer for every Boilermakers run. Despite an early 10-point lead, Purdue couldn’t get control of the game despite Edwards’ heroic effort. Both Kyle Guy (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Ty Jerome (24 points) were phenomenal for the Final Four-bound Cavaliers. However, it was Kihei Clark’s long pass to Diakite that made this victory possible, tying the game right as the buzzer sounded. Virginia scored the final six points in overtime and hung on for a fantastic win.

2. #1 Virginia 63, #5 Auburn 62 (Final Four)

For the second game in a row, the Cavaliers pulled out the win on a minor miracle. Kyle Guy hit three free throws with 0.6 seconds left to give Virginia a trip the national championship game. The Tigers clung to a 3-point halftime lead before the Cavaliers caught fire. Virginia’s late 10-point lead was erased by a 14-0 Auburn run. A 3-pointer by Guy pulled Virginia back into the game nine seconds before he made those game-winning free throws. An incredible season came to an end for the Tigers, who solved the Cavaliers defense but couldn’t hold onto a 4-point lead in the final seconds. Ty Jerome (21 points, 9 rebounds) paced a Cavaliers team that shot 49% and persevered their way to another  legendary victory.

1. #1 Virginia 85, #3 Texas Tech 77 OT (Championship Game)

DeAndre Hunter hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to force overtime, and the Virginia Cavaliers won their first national title. A battle between two of the nation’s best defenses, this game started sluggishly, Virginia led 4-3 after six minutes. The Red Raiders offense woke up, but an 11-0 Virginia run gave them the lead at the half. The Cavaliers would push that lead to as many as 10 points, but clutch shooting pulled Texas Tech back into the game. The Red Raiders had two shots at the championship at the end of regulation, but Jarrett Culver missed a 3-pointer and another jumper.

They’d start fast in overtime, but eventually Virginia would prevail, hitting their free throws late and emerging as the national champions one year after UMBC. DeAndre Hunter (27 points), Kyle Guy (24 points), and Ty Jerome (16 points) went out as champions with one final effort. Both teams shot greater than 40% from the field, though Jarrett Culver (15 points, 5-22 from the field) just didn’t have enough offense to finish the job.