No. 1 Virginia collapsed late in the second half to lose a double-digit lead to Auburn, but Kyle Guy saved the Cavaliers with six points in final eight seconds to stun the crowd in Minneapolis.
Down 61-57, Guy hit a miraculous three-pointer from the corner to cut the deficit to one.
Virginia then fouled Auburn prior to the inbound – which the Cavaliers were allowed to do without penalty. Auburn’s Jared Harper went to the line for a 1-and-1 and hit the first to give the Tigers a 62-60 lead, but missed his second.
With fouls to give, Auburn fouled Virginia’s Ty Jerome to break up play, and a uncalled double-dribble violation should have sealed the game moments later. Racing up the court with just seconds left, Jerome dribbled the ball off his foot and momentarily lost possession, but corralled the ball and began dribbling again.
Jerome should have been whistled for a double-dribble, but play continued and Bryce Brown fouled Jerome to stop the clock with 1.5 seconds remaining. What followed was madness.
Guy caught an inbound pass in the corner and turned to shoot a go-ahead three, and was fouled by Auburn’s Samir Doughty. Doughty left the ground and bumped into Guy’s lower body as he shot, forcing officials to blow the whistle.
Needing to hit two-of-three from the line to force overtime, Guy was perfect. An 81 percent free-throw shooter on the season, Guy hit all three to give Virginia a one-point lead.
Auburn had one final chance on a last-second heave downcourt, but Virginia survived to advance to Monday’s title game.
