The inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge came to a thrilling conclusion on Wednesday with a nail-biting game between Georgia and Auburn. Georgia guard Justin Hill emerged as the hero, hitting a game-winning jumper with just 1.5 seconds left on the clock to give the Bulldogs a narrow 68-66 victory over Florida State.
This win not only secured a triumph for Georgia but also resulted in a 7-7 draw between the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), marking the first edition of the event. The ACC managed to clinch victory by winning four out of the final seven games, overturning a 4-3 advantage initially held by the SEC going into the final day.
What stood out in this challenge was the performance of the ranked teams. SEC teams that held rankings went 1-4, while ACC teams finished 1-2. The marquee matchups truly lived up to the hype, with No. 17 UNC defeating No. 10 Tennessee in a high-scoring battle, ending with a score of 100-92. In another game, Arkansas pulled off a remarkable upset by beating No. 7 Duke with a final score of 80-75, marking Eric Musselman’s 100th victory as the head coach of Arkansas.
The ACC/SEC Challenge was formed after the previous yearly event between the ACC and the Big Ten came to an end. The ACC’s dominance was further showcased in other games, with Wake Forest overpowering Florida with a final score of 82-71, Boston College emerging victorious against Vanderbilt with a commanding 80-62 win, and Auburn triumphing over Virginia Tech with a solid 74-57 scoreline.
Individual players also had standout performances throughout the challenge. Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram, and RJ Davis of UNC each scored over 20 points against Tennessee, while Dalton Knecht had a season-high 37 points for Tennessee. Trevon Brazile and Khalif Battle led Arkansas to victory against Duke, each contributing 19 points. Meanwhile, Virginia displayed exceptional defensive prowess, holding Texas A&M to a mere 47 points. Hunter Sallis and Andrew Carr played crucial roles in Wake Forest’s win over Florida, while Quinten Post and Chaudell Harris Jr. led Boston College to a blowout victory against Vanderbilt.
Georgia’s Justin Hill once again showcased his skills by hitting the game-winning shot against Florida State, securing the Bulldogs’ second win against an ACC team in three games. Additionally, Auburn’s Johni Broome had a standout performance with an impressive 30 points and 13 rebounds in their victory over Virginia Tech.
The ACC/SEC Challenge proved to be an action-packed event filled with thrilling moments and impressive individual performances. With its success, fans can eagerly look forward to future editions of this rivalry showcase between the ACC and SEC powerhouses.
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