Leave it to Kevin Harlan to give the perfect call for the game-winning shot of a March Madness upset.
As No. 13 seed Furman stunned No. 4 seed Virginia in the opening round of the South Region in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, Harlan couldn’t help but toss out an instantly iconic call of Furman sophomore guard JP Pegues’ incredible 3-pointer.
On the crucial sequence, Furman got a last-second steal, and Pegues was in perfect position to knock down the trey that gave the Paladins a 68-67 win over the Cavaliers.
It’s the kind of bracket-busting upset game that instantly anoints a Cinderella, especially if the team can make it out of the round of 32 this weekend.
Harlan’s call will give you goosebumps.
FURMAN GO-AHEAD 3 WITH KEVIN HARLAN ON THE CALL! #MarchMadness 🏀🧅 pic.twitter.com/z3BQfG1MBY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 16, 2023
You can hear the pivotal Furman shot called beautifully by Paladins radio, too.
As called by @DanScottShow on Furman Paladins radio: pic.twitter.com/nXGsnJyFxd
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 16, 2023
Harlan also underscored the upset victory with the right amount of gravitas with Furman’s win coming on its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 43 years.
"FURMAN HAS NOT BEEN TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IN 43 YEARS, AND THEY PULL THE FIRST-ROUND UPSET!"- Kevin Harlan pic.twitter.com/PKDI2pDHXP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 16, 2023
Furman’s upset victory helped bettors hit the +5.5 spread, the 130.5 over and the +200 moneyline.
#13 #FURMAN UPSETS #4 #VIRGINIA WITH A 68-67 VICTORY 🤯🤯🤯
Odds via @BetMGM
Furman ML (+200)✅💰
Furman +5.5 (-108)✅💰
Over 130.5 (-112)✅💰#MarchMadness #sportsbetting pic.twitter.com/VvCQIn0s93
— BetFTW (@Bet_ForTheWin) March 16, 2023
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Pegues didn’t at all seem afraid in what was sure to be the biggest basketball moment of his career so far.
"I was born for those moments."
JP Pegues joined @LaurenShehadi after becoming a March Madness hero. pic.twitter.com/sPs95Dpu6B
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 16, 2023
As for the Cavaliers, the loss highlights Virginia head coach Tony Bennett’s struggles in the tournament. Even though Bennett led the Cavs to an NCAA championship in 2019, his team hasn’t fared quite as well in other seasons.
His Virginia teams have especially struggled with underdogs as of late.
Tony Bennett is now 7-14 against the spread in the NCAA tournament as Virginia's head coach. That includes a 1-8 ATS mark in the first round.
— Sam Cooper (@SamDCooper) March 16, 2023
2018: 1st round loss to No. 16 UMBC
2021: 1st round loss to No. 13 Ohio
2023: 1st round loss to No. 13 Furman
Pain for Virginia once again. pic.twitter.com/CZkXakIWb0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2023
No matter what, Pegues’ game-winning bucket and Harlan’s incredible call will mark what will certainly be a “One Shining Moment” highlight this year.
The special moment also demolished most of the 2023 bracket predictions.
After Furman's stunning upset over Virginia, just 10.67% of brackets are still perfect 😳 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BfxyfBSUfF
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
WE DANCE ON!!!!!! DINS WIN!!!!!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UqT4FN97xn
— Furman Basketball (@FurmanHoops) March 16, 2023
Everybody loved the Furman upset (unless they rooted for Virginia).
FURMAN PULLS OFF A MIRACLE!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/KEZZdtSFYR
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 16, 2023
March Madness is HERE! Furman unreal, just beat Virginia. pic.twitter.com/Xy5sHqQTzs
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 16, 2023
Harlan's call of Pegues' 3 had me ready to run through a wall. My son comes home from school in 15 minutes and I can't wait to show him how that game ended.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 16, 2023
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! FURMAN pic.twitter.com/SidAAv6I00
— Coleman Crawley (@SharpshotSelect) March 16, 2023
My wife works remote and was in an important meeting for the final minutes of Virginia-Furman.
I yelled louder than Mel Gibson in Braveheart after the final shot.
Professionally, the tournament is off to a great start.
Personally, she may change the locks by the Sweet 16.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 16, 2023
Everyone who correctly picked Furman over UVA rn 😏 pic.twitter.com/zmJihObDvu
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
THE UVA YEET TO A PALADIN PLAYER AND THE FURMAN 🧅 TO KNOCK IT DOWN FOR THE WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/aGag2Zsmt5
— The Sickos CBB Committee SOLE (@SickosCBB) March 16, 2023
THAT’S NOT A FURBOY, IT’S A FURMAN
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) March 16, 2023
THE FURMAN PALADINS (+185 ML) UPSET NO. 4 VIRGINIA 🤯
ABSOLUTE SCENES IN VEGAS
(w/ @CircaSports) pic.twitter.com/ddHJ9BPhyo
— br_betting (@br_betting) March 16, 2023
Furman pulls off the upset of Virginia.
Cavaliers were up 12 with 12 minutes left.
MARCH MADNESS!!!!!!
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 16, 2023
No. 13 Furman pulls off the STUNNER over No. 4 Virginia 68-67.
Here’s the reaction of the game-winning 3 from @circasports in Las Vegas: pic.twitter.com/Th1mDWPg10
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) March 16, 2023
For those wondering, a paladin is a knightly or heroic champion.
Furman lived up to the name today. pic.twitter.com/akzREm1iqN
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 16, 2023
THE FURMAN PALADINS pic.twitter.com/oatPg8ke8h
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 16, 2023
Furman did that thang.
MARCH! pic.twitter.com/mxygPneFT2
— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) March 16, 2023
FURMAN (+200 ML) GETS THE STEAL AND DRILLS THE THREE FOR THE WIN 🤯
THIS IS MARCHpic.twitter.com/XceUZB1GBw
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) March 16, 2023
This is what March is all about!
Furman pulls off the upset 🙌
(via @MarchMadnessMBB)pic.twitter.com/T5kNPHvCrG
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) March 16, 2023
