VCU Rams Edge North Carolina in Overtime Thriller
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6:50 PM ET · Bon Secours Wellness Arena
VCU Rams 82, North Carolina Tar Heels 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won VCU Rams vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
VCU Rams beat North Carolina Tar Heels 82-78 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026.
Who was favored in VCU Rams vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling overtime contest, the VCU Rams defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 82-78 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. This matchup was particularly notable as it featured two teams with contrasting recent forms, with VCU entering the game on a six-game winning streak. The Rams, boasting a record of 28-7, have shown impressive resilience, particularly in their last ten games where they recorded a 9-1 record and averaged 75.7 points while allowing 68.0. In contrast, the Tar Heels, with a record of 24-9, have struggled lately, finishing their last ten games with a 6-4 record and an average of 72.4 points scored against 72.9 allowed.
The game started with both teams exchanging baskets, but it was VCU's recent form that gave them the edge. North Carolina had been on a two-game losing streak, including a narrow 79-80 loss to the Clemson Tigers just days prior. The Tar Heels' home record stood at 5-1 in their last six games, while VCU maintained a perfect 6-0 home record in their last six outings, showcasing their strong performance on the road as well.
In previous meetings, the teams had not faced each other in recent years, making this contest a fresh encounter with no historical context to draw from. The absence of any prior matchups added an element of unpredictability to the game.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing for either side, suggesting that both teams were at full strength for this important matchup.
The betting odds from DraftKings indicated that North Carolina was favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 150.5. The moneyline for North Carolina was -155, while VCU was priced at +130, reflecting the market's confidence in the Tar Heels despite their recent struggles.
The conditions in the arena were conducive to an exciting game, with a charged atmosphere as fans from both sides filled the stands. As the game progressed, it became evident that the contest would be closely contested, leading to a dramatic finish.
The second half saw a pivotal moment when Terrence Hill Jr. made a driving layup, tying the game at 75-75 and pushing it into overtime. In the overtime period, Nyk Lewis scored a crucial layup to give VCU a 77-75 lead. Seth Trimble of North Carolina made free throws to briefly tie the game again at 77-77, but VCU's Hill then hit a step-back three-pointer to extend their lead to 80-78. Lewis sealed the victory with two free throws, finalizing the score at 82-78.
This game showcased the resilience of VCU, who capitalized on North Carolina's recent struggles, and highlighted the dramatic nature of NCAA basketball, where every possession counts and games can swing in an instant.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNC -2.5 | 150.5 o -115 / u -105 | VCU Rams +130 · North Carolina Tar Heels -155 |
Leaders
- PointsHenri Veesaar26North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsSeth Trimble6North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsHenri Veesaar10North Carolina Tar Heels
- PointsTerrence Hill Jr.34VCU Rams
- AssistsTerrence Hill Jr.5VCU Rams
- ReboundsNyk Lewis7VCU Rams
Recent form
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 6-4Streak L272.4 scored · 72.9 allowed per game5-1 at home
- L79-80vs Clemson TigersMar 13
- L61-76at Duke Blue DevilsMar 7
- W67-63vs Clemson TigersMar 4
- W89-82vs Virginia Tech HokiesMar 1
- W77-74vs Louisville CardinalsFeb 24
- W77-64at Syracuse OrangeFeb 21
- L58-82at NC State WolfpackFeb 18
- W79-65vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 14
- L66-75at Miami HurricanesFeb 11
- W71-68vs Duke Blue DevilsFeb 7
VCU Rams
Last 10: 9-1Streak W675.7 scored · 68 allowed per game3-1 away
- W70-62vs Dayton FlyersMar 15
- W77-64vs Saint Joseph's HawksMar 14
- W71-66vs Duquesne DukesMar 13
- W68-62at Dayton FlyersMar 7
- W70-65vs George Mason PatriotsMar 4
- W82-63vs Fordham RamsFeb 28
- L75-88at Saint Louis BillikensFeb 21
- W89-75vs George Washington RevolutionariesFeb 18
- W78-67at Richmond SpidersFeb 14
- W77-68at La Salle ExplorersFeb 11
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | 29-6 | - | 15-3 |
| VCU | 28-8 | - | 15-3 |
| Saint Joseph's | 24-12 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Dayton | 25-12 | 3 | 12-6 |
| George Mason | 23-10 | 4 | 11-7 |
| Davidson | 20-14 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Duquesne | 18-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| George Washington | 19-16 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Fordham | 17-15 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Rhode Island | 16-16 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Richmond | 15-17 | 10 | 5-13 |
| La Salle | 9-23 | 10 | 5-13 |
| St. Bonaventure | 17-17 | 11 | 4-14 |
| Loyola Chicago | 9-24 | 11 | 4-14 |
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | VCU Rams | North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-66 | 29-70 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 11-26 | 8-29 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 28 |
| Free throws | 11-16 | 12-20 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 60 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 32 | 33 |
| Assists | 12 | 18 |
| Steals | 5 | 8 |
| Blocks | 5 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 34 |
| Fouls | 17 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 19 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 10 | 77 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half33-48Terrence Hill Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half34-48Terrence Hill Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half34-51Seth Trimble makes 24-foot three point jumper (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half37-51Brandon Jennings makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terrence Hill Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half37-54Derek Dixon makes 24-foot three point jumper (Henri Veesaar assists)
- 2nd Half37-56Seth Trimble makes layup
- 2nd Half40-56Lazar Djokovic makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terrence Hill Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half40-58Luka Bogavac makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half43-58Lazar Djokovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Terrence Hill Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half43-61Henri Veesaar makes 27-foot three point jumper (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half45-61Terrence Hill Jr. makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half47-61Michael Belle makes layup
- 2nd Half49-61Nyk Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-63Jonathan Powell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-64Jonathan Powell makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-64Michael Belle makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jadrian Tracey assists)
- 2nd Half52-67Henri Veesaar makes 25-foot three point jumper (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half54-67Terrence Hill Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half56-67Nyk Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-70Jarin Stevenson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Henri Veesaar assists)
- 2nd Half59-70Terrence Hill Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lazar Djokovic assists)
- 2nd Half61-70Nyk Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-70Nyk Lewis makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half64-70Michael Belle makes 0-foot dunk (Terrence Hill Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half65-70Michael Belle makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half68-70Terrence Hill Jr. makes 33-foot three point jumper (Nyk Lewis assists)
- 2nd Half68-72Derek Dixon makes 15-foot pullup jump shot (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half70-72Terrence Hill Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-74Henri Veesaar makes 1-foot dunk (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half70-75Henri Veesaar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-75Terrence Hill Jr. makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half73-75Nyk Lewis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-75Terrence Hill Jr. makes driving layup
- OT77-75Nyk Lewis makes driving layup
- OT77-76Seth Trimble makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT77-77Seth Trimble makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT77-78Seth Trimble makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT80-78Terrence Hill Jr. makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- OT81-78Nyk Lewis makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT82-78Nyk Lewis makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Tar Heels, below favours VCU Rams.
Venue
- Bon Secours Wellness ArenaGreenville, SC
- OfficialsPaul Szelc, Clarence Armstrong, Kellen Miliner
Elsewhere
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
- All-SEC F Mitchell reenrolls at Missouri, avoids transfer battle
- Duke's Coach K Court to have sponsorship logo for first time
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