Tennessee Reaches Sweet 16 After Controversial Win Over Virginia
PHILADELPHIA – A late-game out-of-bounds call sparked controversy as No. 6 seed Tennessee defeated No. 3 seed Virginia 79-72 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 22, 2026, securing their place in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year. The contentious call occurred with 27 seconds remaining and Tennessee leading 73-71.
The Controversial Call
With the score close, a missed shot by Virginia led to a scramble for the rebound. Tennessee’s Nate Ament spiked the ball, and it appeared to deflect off Tennessee guard Bishop Boswell before going out of bounds. Virginia coach Ryan Odom challenged the call, arguing that the ball was last touched by Boswell and should have been awarded to the Cavaliers. However, the officials upheld the original call, giving possession to Tennessee.
According to USA Today, replays were inconclusive, but appeared to present the ball deflecting off Boswell’s head before going out of bounds.
Game Recap
Tennessee’s victory eliminated Virginia and, notably, the last remaining perfect bracket in the NCAA tournament, as reported by NCAA.com. The Volunteers led 79-72.
Virginia rallied in the second half after trailing by five points at halftime. Thijs De Ridder led the Cavaliers with 22 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. He tied the game twice from the free-throw line and hit a three-pointer to give Virginia its first lead of the half. Dallin Hall also contributed significantly with seven points, seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a block, as detailed in StreakingTheLawn.com.
Despite Virginia’s efforts, Tennessee’s tight interior defense proved challenging, limiting the Cavaliers to only eight points in the paint during the first half. Virginia relied heavily on outside shooting, but ultimately shot 39% from the field compared to Tennessee’s 47%.
Looking Ahead
Tennessee will advance to the Sweet 16, where they will face Iowa State. The controversial call will likely be a talking point as the tournament progresses, but Tennessee remains focused on their pursuit of a championship.
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