Michigan Survives UC San Diego's Upset Bid in Thrilling 68-65 March Madness Showdown
In a thrilling first-round clash of the NCAA Tournament, the Michigan Wolverines narrowly defeated the UC San Diego Tritons 68-65, showcasing a dramatic finish that had fans on the edge of their seats. Vladislav Goldin, the Russian center for Michigan, played a pivotal role, scoring 14 points and helping his team secure the win against a determined Tritons squad led by Tyler McGhie, who poured in an impressive 25 points.
As the clock wound down, McGhie had a chance to tie the game with a 3-point shot at the buzzer. However, with 7-footer Danny Wolf contesting the shot, it hit the back iron, allowing the Wolverines and their supporters to breathe a sigh of relief.
With this victory, Michigan advanced to the next round, where they will face the fourth-seeded Texas A&M Aggies, who earlier defeated Yale 80-71 at Ball Arena.
The Tritons, seeded 12th, briefly took the lead at 65-63 after McGhie's basket with just 2:29 left on the clock. But Tre Donaldson, who was part of the Auburn team that faced an upset against Yale in last year's tournament, quickly responded with a 3-pointer, regaining the lead for Michigan.
Goldin, who had picked up his fourth foul earlier in the game, made a crucial offensive rebound and was fouled with just 19.3 seconds remaining. He calmly sank both free throws, extending Michigan's lead to 68-65.
UC San Diego, boasting a record of 30-5, made headlines by moving up from Division II in 2020. They clinched both the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in their inaugural season of Division I eligibility.
Entering March Madness, the Tritons carried the nation's longest winning streak, having won 15 consecutive games since their last defeat on January 18. However, the bright lights of the tournament and the formidable Wolverines, who had recently claimed the Big Ten Tournament title, posed a significant challenge.
Despite a rocky start, UC San Diego settled into the game after falling behind early. They struggled to score for over five minutes at the beginning, failing to even attempt a shot for more than two minutes. Michigan capitalized on this slow start, racing out to a 10-0 lead before McGhie finally scored the Tritons' first basket at the 14:55 mark.
Goldin's three-point play just before halftime sent Michigan into the break with a comfortable 41-27 lead, and he opened the second half with a free throw, extending the cushion to 15 points. However, after picking up his fourth foul at the 8:25 mark, Goldin was quiet until the final moments of the game.
UC San Diego's journey to March Madness was a long one, as the NCAA mandated a five-year wait for eligibility following their transition to Division I. Coach Eric Olen skillfully built the team through the transfer portal, bringing in three standout players from Division II: guards Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, McGhie, and Hayden Gray. Tait-Jones, who averaged 19.5 points per game, was held to just seven points against Michigan.
Goldin, who played a crucial role in FAU's Final Four run two years ago, joined Michigan after coach Juwan Howard's departure and the hiring of Dusty May. Together, they transformed the Wolverines from an 8-24 record in Howard's final season to a strong finish in the Big Ten, culminating in victories over Purdue, Maryland, and Wisconsin in the conference tournament.
In a controversial moment, Will Tschetter's 3-pointer that made it 59-49 should not have counted, as he was out of bounds when he caught the pass. Unfortunately, the officials missed the call, adding to the drama of this intense matchup.
