March Madness Thriller: Michigan Survives UC San Diego’s Cinderella Scare in Nail-Biting Finish
DENVER – The madness of March delivered yet again. Vladislav Goldin and Michigan barely escaped a stunning upset, outlasting UC San Diego 68-65 in a heart-stopping first-round showdown. The game ended in pure drama—a buzzer-beater attempt by Tyler McGhie that had fans holding their breath as it clanged off the back iron, leaving the Tritons just inches away from a historic victory.
McGhie, who poured in 25 points and nearly became the tournament’s latest Cinderella hero, was devastated:
“I thought it was in. Hit the back iron. Couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.”
For UC San Diego, this was more than just a close loss. It was a statement. A program that only became Division I eligible this season nearly shocked a Big Ten powerhouse. A team that hadn’t lost since January 18 came within a single shot of keeping its dream run alive.
The Shot That Could Have Changed Everything
The moment felt like a scene straight out of a sports movie. UC San Diego had the ball, down three, with just seconds remaining. McGhie, who had been on fire all night, took the shot—a step-back three over Michigan’s 7-footer Danny Wolf—but fate had other plans. Ball Arena, rocking like it does for a Nikola Jokić alley-oop, fell silent as the ball sailed through the air… and rattled out.
With that miss, Michigan fans exhaled, and the Wolverines survived.
A Gritty Battle to the Finish
UC San Diego took its first lead of the game at 65-63 after a clutch bucket by McGhie with 2:29 left. But just when the upset seemed inevitable, Michigan’s Tre Donaldson drilled a dagger three-pointer, putting the Wolverines back on top.
Then came the defining moment—Goldin, playing with four fouls, muscled his way to a critical offensive rebound, drew a foul, and iced two free throws with 19.3 seconds left. It was the type of clutch play that separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Goldin, a former FAU Final Four hero, had been quiet for most of the second half but delivered when it mattered most—just like he did on FAU’s magical run in 2023.
Michigan’s Lucky Break: The Missed Call That Could Have Changed It All
Controversy struck when Michigan’s Will Tschetter drained a crucial three-pointer to push the lead to 59-49—but he was out of bounds when he caught the pass. The referees missed it, and in a game decided by just three points, that blown call could have cost UC San Diego a fair shot at victory.
Will this officiating blunder fuel UC San Diego’s fire heading into next season?
A Program on the Rise
Despite the heartbreaking loss, UC San Diego proved they belong on college basketball’s biggest stage. Built through the transfer portal, head coach Eric Olen assembled a squad of Division II standouts, and they nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history.
“I was glad we found our rhythm and gave ourselves an opportunity,” Olen said postgame.
What’s Next? Texas A&M Awaits
With the scare behind them, Michigan now faces fourth-seeded Texas A&M, which took down Yale 80-71. But if this game proved anything, it’s that in March Madness, no one is safe.
