15-Seed Princeton Shocks 2-Seed Arizona 78-75 in March Madness First Round Upset

Princeton delivered one of the most stunning upsets in March Madness history Wednesday evening at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, defeating second-seeded Arizona 78-75 in a thrilling first-round matchup that will be remembered as one of the tournament's greatest Cinderella stories. The 15th-seeded Tigers shot a blistering 52% from three-point range and never trailed in the final 12 minutes to complete a victory that sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball world.

The Ivy League champions came out firing from long range, connecting on 11 of their first 15 three-point attempts to build a commanding 18-point lead midway through the second half. Junior guard Blake Peters led the offensive onslaught with 28 points on 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, consistently finding open looks against an Arizona defense that seemed unprepared for Princeton's pace and ball movement.

Arizona, led by Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love, mounted a furious comeback attempt in the final minutes, cutting the deficit to just two points with 47 seconds remaining. However, Princeton senior Ryan Langborg hit the dagger three-pointer with 23 seconds left, sending the Tigers' bench and fans into absolute delirium as they realized they had pulled off one of March Madness' greatest upsets.

"This team has believed in each other all season long," Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson said during his emotional post-game interview. "We knew if we could play our style of basketball and execute our game plan, we had a chance to compete with anyone. These kids deserve all the credit for staying composed and making big shots when it mattered most."

The victory marks Princeton's first NCAA Tournament win since 1998 and sends them to the second round where they'll face either 7-seed Michigan State or 10-seed Davidson. The Tigers' stunning performance featured exceptional teamwork, with four players scoring in double figures and the team recording 22 assists on 26 made field goals.

For Arizona, the loss represents a devastating end to what had been a remarkable season under first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats had entered the tournament as a popular pick to reach the Final Four, but their inability to defend the three-point line and handle Princeton's disciplined offensive sets ultimately cost them dearly. The upset serves as another reminder that in March Madness, anything can happen when David meets Goliath, and no lead or seed is ever safe when the stakes are highest.