Jenkins’ buzzer-beater lifts Villanova to national title
April 4, 2016 - 8:28 pm

Villanova forward Kris Jenkins (2) reacts to the end of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova players celebrate after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Villanova's Jalen Brunson (1), Mikal Bridges (25) and their teammates celebrate after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova head coach Jay Wright waved to fans after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova forward Kris Jenkins celebrates after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, right and his players on the bench react after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Villanova, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova head coach Jay Wright, right, embraces Kris Jenkins after Jenkins scored a game winning three point basket in the closing seconds of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova forward Daniel Ochefu (23) shoots by North Carolina forward Joel James (42) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Villanova's Jalen Brunson (1) goes to the basket during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (Robert Deutsch via AP, Pool)

Villanova's Daniel Ochefu (23) and North Carolina's Kennedy Meeks (3) battle for a rebound during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

North Carolina's Brice Johnson (11) goes up for a basket during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Villanova guard Josh Hart (3) North Carolina guard Marcus Paige (5) and North Carolina forward Kennedy Meeks (3) chase a loose ball during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

North Carolina forward Justin Jackson (44) shoots against Villanova guard Josh Hart (3) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams watches play against Villanova during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Villanova forward Daniel Ochefu (23) and North Carolina forward Kennedy Meeks (3) scramble for the ball during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Villanova guard Josh Hart (3) reacts to play against North Carolina during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

North Carolina's Marcus Paige battles for a loose ball against Villanova's Josh Hart (3) during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Villanova's Josh Hart (3) reacts to a play during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

North Carolina forward Justin Jackson (44) shoots against Villanova guard Josh Hart (3) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Villanova plays North Carolina during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
HOUSTON — One good shot deserved another.
Kris Jenkins of Villanova wasn’t about to be outdone.
Jenkins overcame the shock of watching North Carolina’s Marcus Paige hit a double-clutch 3 to tie it by spotting up behind the right side of the arc and draining a 3 of his own at the buzzer to lift Villanova to a 77-74 victory and the national championship Monday night.
What a shot — and what a game.
The second-seeded Wildcats (35-5), had a six-point lead with 1:52 left, but watched it slowly trickle away. Then, it was gone, when Paige jumped — and when Ryan Arcidacono started running at him — double clutched and pumped one from beyond the arc to tie the game at 74 with 4.7 seconds left.
After a timeout, Arcidacono worked the ball upcourt and got it to Jenkins, who swished it from about two steps behind the 3-point line.
“Kris told him he was going to be open, Arch made the perfect pass,” Villanova coach Jay Wright explained. “Kris lives for that moment.”
A few moments later, Jenkins was leaping over press row, hugging his family and shouting: “They said we couldn’t, they said we couldn’t, they said we couldn’t.”
Oh yes, they could.
It’s Villanova’s first title since 1985, when Rollie Massimino coaxed a miracle out of his eighth-seeded underdogs for a victory over star-studded Georgetown.
Hard to top this one, though.
Jenkins, who was adopted by the family of North Carolina guard Nate Britt, now has a spot with Keith Smart, Lorenzo Charles and anyone else who ever made a late game-winner to win the whole thing.
Paige finished with 21 for the top-seeded Heels (33-7), who came one agonizing shot short of giving coach Roy Williams his third national title.