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Virginia beats Auburn in NCAA Tournament Final Four on three free throws in final second

The Tigers appeared to have achieved a miracle comeback from a 10-point deficit in the final 5:22 but the Cavaliers ended up winning the game when Kyle Guy was fouled on a three-point attempt with 0.6 seconds to play and made all three free throws.

Virginia's Kyle Guy celebrates after defeating Auburn 63-62 in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Virginia's Kyle Guy celebrates after defeating Auburn 63-62 in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Read moreDavid J. Phillip / AP

MINNEAPOLIS – After blowing a 10-point lead Saturday night to Auburn and appearing as if it would be the last No. 1 seed to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, Virginia still had 1.5 seconds to make something happen and keep its national championship hopes alive.

The Cavaliers’ Ty Jerome inbounded to Kyle Guy in the left corner, giving Guy a three-point try for the win. The Tigers’ Samir Doughty went out to contest the shot but clipped the right hip of Guy as he was releasing the basketball, resulting in a foul with no time showing on the clock and the Auburn cheering section booing vociferously.

With the clock reset to 0.6 seconds, Guy made the first two free throws and, after a timeout, sank the third as well to give the Cavaliers a 63-62 victory over the Tigers in the first game of the national semifinal doubleheader at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I can’t lie to you and say I knew I was going to hit them,” said Guy, the team’s top free-throw shooter at 81.8 percent. “I was terrified, but I had confidence in myself. This is what we dream of. For me to be able to do this for our team, I couldn’t be happier.”

Virginia (34-3) advanced to Monday night’s national championship game against the winner of Saturday night’s second semifinal between Michigan State and Texas Tech.

The Tigers (30-10) appeared to have sealed a miracle comeback. Trailing, 57-47, with 5 minutes, 22 seconds remaining, they scored 14 consecutive points to take a 61-57 lead with 17.6 seconds to play. Guy ended the long drought for Virginia with 7.5 seconds left, hitting a three-point basket.

Jared Harper was fouled before Auburn could inbound the ball, but hit only the front end of the one-and-one, leaving the Tigers up by two and the Cavaliers with a chance.

The Tigers took the two fouls they had to give, leaving Virginia with 1.5 seconds to come up with the tying or winning basket. It got free throws instead after the foul by Doughty, a former star at Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School, and Bryce Brown’s off-balance desperation final shot at the buzzer had no chance.

Doughty said he wasn’t "really sure why they called that call but I’m pretty sure the refs made the right decision.

“They do a great job at reffing and they’re trying to the best of their ability to make the right call. I can’t question none of that.”

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl was not interested in discussing the foul, saying his team would not focus on that.

“We focused on how we were going to handle the defeat at Auburn, with class and dignity,” he said. “There are lots of calls during the game and you’re going to get some, and some you’re not going to get. My advice, as an administrator of the game, is if that’s a foul, call it.

“That was the call. But it won’t … don’t let it define the game.”

Jerome led Virginia with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists, with Guy adding 15 points and former Friends’ Central star De’Andre Hunter 14. Doughty led Auburn with 13 points and Bryce Brown, who knocked down three three-pointers in the 14-0 run, added 12.

Virginia coach Tony Bennett came in for his post-game interview before seeing a replay of the Auburn foul.

“Someone said they did get in [Guy’s] space and pushed him,” he said. “But then to make the three free throws is terrific. You just keep playing.

“We got up 10 and they made some tough shots and … I think we stood around a little bit and we had a couple of tough plays. … I do feel for Auburn but I feel better for us right now, and I’m just thankful these guys stepped up and played the way we needed to and got through.”