Kris Jenkins wins National Championship with epic buzzer-beater

Posted: April 4, 2016 -- 11:55 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (NRG) -- Kris Jenkins carved his name into NCAA basketball lore with a championship-winning 3 point shot at the buzzer to give the Villanova Wildcats a thrilling 77-74 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.

This just happened. Kris Jenkins drained a 3 at the buzzer to win #NationalChampionship for Villanova, 77-74. pic.twitter.com/iuXuN1CUMk

— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) April 5, 2016

"I think every shot is going in," Jenkins said, matter-of-fact, after the game. "So, every shot I shot today I thought was going in; so, that was no different."

Jenkins' basket came after a Villanova timeout with 4.7 seconds remaining set up the winning play.

North Carolina's Marcus Paige tied the game seconds earlier with a double-pumped three-point basket.

Villanova led 67-57 with 5:29 remaining; but, Joel Berry II made two free throws to begin a 7-0 North Carolina run. Teammate Brice Johnson added a dunk; and, Berry II swished a three-point shot.

Villanova's Phil Booth nailed a jump shot to end the Wildcats' scoreless drought at the 3:05 mark of the second half.

The Tar Heels missed two free throws and two jump shots during the next 73 seconds.

Josh Hart split two foul shots for a 70-64 lead with 1:52 remaining; but, the Tar Heels refused to go away.

Paige sank a three-point shot to slice Nova's lead to 70-67; then, Brice Johnson banked in a jumper to bring the Tar Heels within one point (70-69) with 66 seconds remaining.

Phil Booth was fouled and sank both foul shots for a three point Wildcats' lead; but, Paige rebounded his own missed lay-up with a tough reverse lay-up which made the score 72-71 Villanova with 22 seconds on the game clock.

The Tar Heels waited 9 seconds before fouling Josh Hart. With 13 seconds left in the game, Hart sank both foul shots for a 74-71 lead.

Villanova called a 30-second timeout.

After the timeout, the Tar Heels worked the ball up court; and Paige launched a double-pump shot from the right side of the court which found the bottom of the net to tie the game at 74.

But, 4.7 seconds remained which was plenty of time for Ryan Arcidiacono to dribble the ball up court and dish to Jenkins for the championship-winning buzzer-beater.

"Ryan Arcidiacono -- he's one of the best players I've ever played with," said Jenkins. "For a senior to get the ball and make the right play and not try to shoot the ball in double coverage just shows a lot about hims and what he's about and how he's just all about winning."

"Unbelievable! Unbelievable!" Arcidiacono exclaimed. "Simply that. We've run that play every sing day in practice; and, we executed."

Phil Booth scored a team-high 20 points for Villanova. Arcidiacono scored 16; Jenkins scored 14; and, Josh Hart added 12 points.

North Carolina's Marcus Paige scored a game-high 21 points. Joel Berry II scored 20 points; and, Brice Johnson chipped in 14 points.

NOTE:

2016 NCAA Men's All-Final Four Team

Phil Booth, Villanova

Josh Hart, Villanova

Joel Berry II, North Carolina

Brice Johnson, North Carolina.

Most Outstanding Player -- Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova

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