Pegues’ three gives No. 13 seed Furman 68-67 win over Virginia

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) — Kihei Clark sat in the locker room watching video on hisphone, trying to figure out how Virginia could have avoided anotherearly exit from the NCAA Tournament.

Five years tothe day after losing as a No. 1 seed to 16th-seeded UMBC, theCavaliers were eliminated in the first round as the higher-seededteam again Thursday — this time, falling 68-67 to 13th-seededFurman.

Virginiahasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since its 2019 triumph overTexas Tech for the title. Clark’s bad pass was intercepted byGarrett Hien in the closing seconds, leading to a wide-open3-pointer that JP Pegues sank without hesitation.

Clark starredas a freshman on Virginia’s 2019 national title-winning team. Hislong career with the Cavaliers had a much more unsatisfyingconclusion.

So, whatwould he have done differently?

“Calltimeout, maybe could have threw it to Armaan (Franklin) on theright wing maybe,” Clark said. “He was open. Couldn’t see. It was agood trap.”

Coach TonyBennett wasn’t surprised Clark patiently answered questions fromreporters.

“This is partof the game. I’ve used this line before, but when you step betweenthe lines, you take the good and you take the hard with it. You tryto handle them both with dignity and respect,” Bennett said.

“I’ve lovedcoaching him in his career. He had the most amazing assist to getus to a Final Four. We would not be in this spot without him, allthe success,” Bennett added. “He’s had an unbelievable career. Youalways look to that last moment, and there’s so many what-ifs andwho knows.”

Making theirfirst trip to the NCAA Tournament in 43 years, the Paladins (28-7)advanced to the second round in the South Region, where they willplay fifth-seeded San Diego State (28-6) on Saturday. The Aztecsheld off No. 12 seed Charleston 63-57.

“All yearwe’ve been saying that this team just knows how to win. ... It’s anunbelievable moment,” Furman coach Bob Richey said.

“This game is— interesting might be the word I’d use,” Bennett said. “You feellike, we got it, we got it, and then all of a sudden in a moment’snotice, it changes at the end. That’s tough.”

Furman earnedits first tournament berth since 1980 by beating Chattanooga forthe Southern Conference title, capping a season-long quest toredeem itself after losing the league’s automatic berth to the Mocsin overtime on a 35-foot buzzer-beater last year.

“I couldn’thelp but go back when I saw the shot in the air to a year ago. It’sjust a reminder, like we said it all year, count on joy, and youdon’t know timing of things. ... This team has persevered, and theydid it today,” Richey said. “It’s a microcosm of what they learned,and they just keep reliving the lesson and keep finding ways.”

In theaftermath of last year’s disappointment, Jalen Slawson and his bestfriend, Mike Bothwell, both decided to return for their fifthseasons with the Paladins. Slawson took over the game when Bothwellfouled out with just over six minutes remaining, scoring nineconsecutive points to turn a 54-48 deficit into Furman’s first leadof the game, 57-54, with 5:02 to go.

Slawson, theSouthern Conference player of the year, finished with 19 points, 10rebounds and four assists.

“I told Mikethat we weren’t going to let today be his last time putting ajersey on, and I know if roles were reversed, the same thing wouldhave happened,” Slawson said. “It didn’t have to just be me. Butthe game was up there for the taking, and these guys told me theybelieved in me and told me I was being a little bit passive, toldme to be a little bit more aggressive.”

The winningshot was Pegues’ only 3 of the game.

“As soon as Isaw it go into Garrett Hien’s hands, I was like, I want the ball. Ifeel like those are moments I’ve created my whole life, and I feellike I’m built for,” Pegues said. “I had full belief that it wasgoing in, and it did.”

ReeceBeekman’s deep 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim andVirginia (25-8) was eliminated in the first round as thehigher-seeded team for the third time in its past four NCAAtournaments. The Cavaliers were also a No. 4 seed two years ago,when they were beaten by 13th-seeded Ohio.

KadinShedrick led the Cavaliers with 15 points, 13 rebounds and fourblocks. Beekman scored 14 and Isaac McKneely added 12.

Marcus Fosterscored 14 points and Pegues and Bothwell both finished with 11 forFurman.

WHAT’S GOING ON

Pegues’ shotsent shock waves throughout the tournament.

Gradey Dickwas shooting free throws late in the first half in Des Moines,Iowa, when the crowd roared, startling the Kansas freshman. Fanswere reacting to the final seconds of the Furman-Virginia gamebeing shown on the center-court video board. Dick made the firstfree throw, turned around and looked up at the video board to seewhat the commotion was about, and then sank the second. Anotherloud roar went up when time expired on the Furman upset, but itdidn’t disrupt Kansas’ win over Howard because the teams were in atimeout.

UPNEXT

Furman: ThePaladins made six appearances in the tourney between 1971 and 1980.Their only other victory came against South Carolina in 1974.Slawson doesn’t see any reason why the Southern Conferencechampions can’t win again.

“This teamhas done a great job making history all year,” Slawson said, “soyou know, Saturday is going to be another chance to makehistory.”