Nevada Storms Back From 22-Point Deficit To Upset Cincinnati And Move On To Sweet 16

Just two days after Nevada’s Caleb Martin lost his damn mind in overtime to beat Texas, teammate Josh Hall floated a ball over the head of Cincinnati’s Kyle Washington to give the Wolf Pack their first and only lead of the game and send them on to the Sweet 16.

No. 7 seed Nevada upset No. 2 seed Cincinnati Sunday evening 75-73, climbing out of a 22-point hole with seven minutes remaining to knock off the Bearcats, who for 33 minutes looked like a lock to advance to the next round. The win advances the Wolf Pack to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and bounces Mick Cronin’s squad from the tournament in the second round for the second straight season.

Cincinnati claimed the lead 15 seconds into the first half and didn’t relinquish it until there were only 9.1 seconds remaining in regulation. But the only stat that matters is that the higher seed didn’t convert a field goal after Jacob Evans drained a jumper with 5:48 remaining—at the time, the Bearcats led 71-63. From there, the Wolf Pack whittled away at the lead behind the offense of Hall and the Martin brothers. After Cody Martin, the game’s leading scorer with 25 points, missed a step-back jumper from the top of key, Halls secured the rebound around the free throw line. After pausing for a moment, Hall pivoted toward the basket and instinctively let loose a floater that bounced off the left side of the rim, tapped the backboard, and dropped through the hoop with 9.1 seconds remaining.

Nevada will now face Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago in the Sweet 16.