For only the 11th time in NCAA Tournament history — and for the third consecutive season — a No. 15 seed knocked off a No. 2.
New Jersey’s own Princeton University upended national powerhouse Arizona, busting brackets nationwide within six hours of the tournament’s opening tip.
Despite not leading until taking a one-point lead with 2:03 remaining, Princeton gradually overcame a 12-point deficit, escaping with a hard-fought 59-55 victory.
“Pretty surreal feeling,” guard Matt Allocco said. “To beat a great team like that on this stage is a pretty special feeling. But also I can’t say I’m surprised. This team has been so good all year, so gritty.
“On paper, it’s going to look like a big upset. But we believe in each other and we think we’re a really good team. When we’re at our best, then I think we can beat anybody in the country.”
The Tigers ended the game on a 9-0 run in the final 4:28.
“If you want to be a great player, you want to be a great coach, we all got to learn from this,’” coach Tommy Lloyd said. “We got to go back and figure out what happened and understand the value of being up 10 to 12 points with 10 minutes to go, putting the hammer on people, not letting people get back in the game.”
The win marks their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1998, and the Ivy League’s first since Yale’s 2016 win over Baylor.
Princeton senior Tosan Evbuomwan led the way with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Tigers will take on No. 7 Missouri — which defeated No. 10 Utah State, 76-65 — on Saturday in the round of 32.
It was second major upset of the day, after Furman handed Virginia its latest NCAA Tournament exit after JP Pegues made a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining for a 68-67 win.
