Norfolk State Upsets No. 2-Seeded Missouri in Bracket-Busting Thriller

The first major upset of the NCAA tournament came at the expense of the Big 12 champion Missouri Tigers.

Matched up against the 15th-seeded Norfolk State Spartans, the Tigers got all they could handle in a high-scoring matchup that featured numerous ties and lead changes. In the end, it was Norfolk State standing triumphant at the 86-84 final.

Missouri had its chances to win the game in the final seconds. Phil Pressey made a key three-pointer to make it 85-84 with 11 seconds to go, and that started the try-to-steal-and-then-foul process. The Tigers nearly got a steal on Norfolk State's ensuing inbound play, but they had to settle for sending Rodney McCauley to the line.

The Tigers were in good shape when McCauley missed the second free throw at the other end, but they failed to collect the rebound and ultimately gave the ball right back to Norfolk State.

Fortunately for Missouri, Kyle O'Quinn missed both free throws, setting Missouri up with a chance to win the game on a buzzer-beater.

Pressey ended up taking the final shot. It was not a good look, and it was off the mark.

All told, four players scored in double figures for the Spartans, with Chris McEachin (20 PTS), Pendarvis Williams (20 PTS) and O'Quinn (26 PTS) all scoring over 20 points. 

Michael Dixon (22 PTS), Marcus Denmon (20 PTS) and Pressey (20 PTS) all scored over 20 points for Missouri, but the Tigers simply didn't have an answer for the Spartans defensively. Norfolk State shot better than 54 percent from the floor and pulled down a total of 14 offensive rebounds.

Missouri is just the fifth No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 15 seed in NCAA tournament history.