Villanova rallied from a halftime deficit with a strong start to the 2nd half. North Carolina seemed to be in control late in the 1st half at NRG Stadium. Head coach Jay Wright witnessed his team soul search in their locker room during intermission. From the start of the 2015-16 the North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorites to win the National Championship. Virgina would go on to win the ACC regular season title. Yet UNC was dominate in Washington, DC during the ACC Tournament. In that tournament North Carolina would go on to win it and secure a number one seed in the East. Meanwhile since the 2009 Final Four Villanova had not made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA's. Losing the last two years in the round of 32. In 2014 as a 2 seed. In 2015 as a 1 seed. The Wildcats won the newly formed Big East regular season title. Nova Nation would see their squad lose to Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament championship. That defeat landed Villanova a number two seed in the Midwest. Fast forward back to championship night in Houston, Villanova took a double digit lead with about five minutes remaining. Five basketball minutes away from the Wildcats 1st championship since 1985. North Carolina clawed back into the game, which included Villanova missed free throws and turnovers down the stretch. Tar Heels senior guard Marcus Paige made an incredible double clutch 3 to tie the game with 4.7 seconds remaining. Villanova called a time out. Kris Jenkins would in bound the ball. Daniel Ochefu would set the ball screen. Ryan Arcidiacano would push the basketball. Kris Jenkins received the pass once the North Carolina defense collapsed on the ball handler. The junior forward let it fly. The rest is championship history. Swish ! Villanova 77 North Carolina 74
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