NCAA Tournament: George Mason Tops Villanova With Last-Minute Three

George Mason basketball is once again giving fans thrilling NCAA Tournament finishes. Five years after its amazing run through the March Madness bracket, Mason took on No. 9 Villanova. The Patriots were trailing the enter game, by 10 at one point, and by six at the half. But with a miraculous last-minute comeback, Mason managed to top Nova, 61-57, to advance to the third round. Of course, we wouldn’t expect anything less with Gus Johnson calling the game.

Mason’s run started with about four minutes left int he game. They cut the lead to single digits, and then proceeded to outscore Nova, 15-5, down the stretch. With Mason down one, they took possession with 31 seconds left. Instead of holding it for the final shot, Luke Hancock stepped back for a three, and nailed it, with 19 seconds left. From there, Nova was unable to get off a clean shot, and Mason sealed the victory.

George Mason basketball, which made itself the most famous March Madness Cinderella back in 2006, entered its first 2011 NCAA Tournament game as a favorite this time around. Seeded 8th, Mason is facing No. 9 Villanova in the second round. At the break, it’s ‘Nova with the lead by a score of 35-29. But it could be a lot worse for the Patriots.

Mason started cold, and Villanova was able to capitalize by hitting shots and out-rebounding Mason. The deficit was 10 for GMU late in the half, but the Patriots put together a run to end the first period and enter the locker room down just six.

Nova and UConn battled for the honor of being the most-underachieving Big East team throughout conference play, though the Huskies made up for it during Kemba Walker’s siege of Madison Square Garden.

Can a team that’s been breezing for two months keep it going against a team way too talented to be losing to South Florida, Rutgers, and Providence?