AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
- The Virginia Cavaliers beat the Auburn Tigers 63-62 in the Final Four to punch their ticket to the national championship.
- The win came after Virginia guard Kyle Guy was fouled while shooting a desperation three in the game’s final seconds.
- Guy would drill three clutch free throws for the Cavaliers to seal the win.
The Virginia Cavaliers barely escaped the Final Four on Saturday, defeating the Auburn Tigers 63-62 to punch their ticket to the national championship game on Monday night.
The Cavaliers controlled the action for the majority of the second half, with their infamously stout defense stifling the Tigers attack.
But things almost collapsed in the final minutes of the game, with Auburn tearing through a 12-0 run and winding up with a 62-60 lead with just seven seconds remaining in the game.
After Auburn burned a few fouls still left to give, the Cavaliers were left with just 1.6 seconds and possession, in need of a miracle for their win.
They found it. Kyle Guy found an opening to receive the inbounds pass and threw up a desperation three. It missed, but Guy caught contact from Samir Doughty on his way down, resulting in three free throws.
It was soft contact, but Guy is technically a shooter until he lands, and as difficult as it might be to accept sometimes, a foul is a foul.
Virginia still needed Guy to drain all three of his free throws, no small feat on college basketball’s biggest stage, but he stepped to the line with poise, and ultimately, secured the win for the Cavaliers.
Basketball is a game of inches, and as a result, Virginia will play in the national championship game on Monday.
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Tyler Lauletta)