NCAA Tournament 2015: Biggest Bracket-Busters Through the Round of 32

What a week of basketball it has been.

The NCAA tournament has been exciting since the First Four kicked off in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday, but the last four days in particular provided some stories for the ages, as we saw fathers and sons capture hearts, underdogs triumph and in-state rivalries reinvigorated.

Likely the only thing that hasn't been incredible about this weekend? The state of your bracket.

Just as they do every year, Cinderellas and sleepers wreaked havoc on the Big Dance.

Here are the games and teams that busted brackets across the world during the first three rounds of March Madness.

No. 14 Georgia State Upsets No. 3 Baylor in Round of 64

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Turning point: With 2:39 remaining in the game, the Georgia State Panthers were down by 12, and their leading scorer, R.J. Hunter, only had four points. But Hunter found another gear in the final minutes of the game, scoring 12 points and hitting the game-winning three-point shot with just 2.6 seconds left to give his team a 57-56 win.

Bracket impact: Some writers (*cough cough*) warned you that Georgia State had Cinderella potential, but there weren't many who believed in a Panthers squad that only scored 38 points in the Sun Belt Championship Game. Only 8 percent of the people playing in ESPN's Tournament Challenge picked Georgia State.

What we'll remember: Without a doubt, the most memorable moment from this one came at the end, when Hunter scored the game-winning three as his father, coach Ron Hunter, fell off his rolling stool celebrating. Ron had previously torn his Achilles celebrating his team's win in the Sun Belt tournament championship.

What's next: Georgia State lost to No. 6 seed Xavier 75-67 in the round of 32.

No. 14 UAB Defeats No. 3 Iowa State in Round of 64

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

Turning point: This was a close game throughout, with UAB playing inspired ball and Iowa State as flat as a pancake. But this game was won and lost in the final minute: With 50.6 seconds, UAB's Robert Brown hit a three-pointer to give the Blazers the lead. Then with 17 seconds remaining, Iowa State's Georges Niang had his shot blocked and committed a foul. UAB survived, 60-59.

Bracket impact: This was bracket-wrecking basketball. Many people (possibly this writer included) had picked Iowa State as a trendy Elite Eight pick after their great Big 12 tournament. Meanwhile, nobody had faith in UAB—this upset destroyed 95 percent of ESPN Tournament Challenge brackets.

What we'll remember: We'll remember a team coming together on the national stage to play for more than just themselves. The Blazers were playing for all of UAB, a school that has been reeling since its football program was cut in the fall. They were also wearing mismatched shoes to promote pediatric-cancer research.

What's next: UAB lost to No. 11 seed UCLA in the round of 32, 92-75.

No. 11 UCLA Upsets No. 6 SMU in Round of 64

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Turning point: The referees created the turning point in UCLA's win over SMU. With 13 seconds left, Bruins guard Bryce Alford shot a three-pointer that SMU's Yanick Moreira knocked down at the last second. The officials called goaltending, which gave UCLA the three points and the win, 60-59. The call was extremely controversial, as it looked like the ball wasn't going in.

Bracket impact: A No. 11 seed over a No. 6 isn't an earth-shattering upset, but considering that many thought UCLA didn't even deserve an at-large bid, it certainly rattled a few feathers to see the Bruins get an upset in the round of 64.

However, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who had UCLA in the Sweet 16, which is what happened when the bracket broke their way and the Bruins got to face No. 14 UAB in the round of 32.

What we'll remember: Unfortunately for UCLA, we'll probably mostly remember the controversy. Even NBA players couldn't agree whether it was a goaltending call. 

"I don't know if it would have gone in or not, but he definitely grabbed it on the way," Alford insisted after the game, as reported by The Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

What's next: UCLA defeated No. 14 seed UAB 92-75 in the round of 32 to become the only double-digit seed in the Sweet 16. The Bruins will face second-seeded Gonzaga next.

No. 11 Dayton Upsets No. 6 Providence in Round of 64

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Turning point: The extremely pro-Dayton arena in Columbus was rocking when Dyshawn Pierre hit a three-pointer with 4:28 remaining in the game to give Dayton an eight-point lead, 50-42. Then, with 3:42 left, Providence coach Ed Cooley was controversially called for a technical foul when he knocked over his chair during a timeout. That was it for the Friars, who lost 66-53.

Bracket impact: As mentioned, wins involving No. 11s over No. 6 seeds are fairly common—there have been 43 in NCAA history. Still, only 28 percent of the brackets in the ESPN Tournament Challenge picked Dayton, despite the fact that the game was in Ohio. 

What we'll remember: I think we'll mostly remember the late start (the game didn't tip off until 10:53 p.m. ET) and the home-court advantage for Dayton. The Flyers had already received home-court advantage in the most literal sense in the First Four, when they actually played in Dayton. It was a bit much for their second-round game to also be in Columbus.

"It was powerful," Dayton coach Archie Miller said about the crowd, as reported by the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "Our fans continue to be on front and center stage right now. In Columbus, I had a hunch it was going to be like this."

What's next: Dayton lost to No. 3 Oklahoma in the round of 32, 72-66.

No. 8 N.C. State Upsets No. 1 Villanova in Round of 32

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Turning point: North Carolina State was in control for most of the game, but it looked like the Wolfpack were destined for another late-game collapse when Trevor Lacey overthrew Desmond Lee on a simple inbound pass with only 36.8 seconds remaining.

However, luckily for the Wolfpack, Villanova's Dylan Ennis missed his next three-point attempt, and Cat Barber was able to grab the rebound and make his free throws to seal the 71-68 victory.

Bracket impact: This was a doozy. While NC State has shown this season that it can win big, its inconsistency has been disheartening. In the ESPN Tournament Challenge, 90 percent of brackets had Villanova beating the Wolfpack, and President Obama even picked Villanova to make it to the final.  

What we'll remember: We'll remember the wild finish, but mostly we'll remember the celebration. After the time ran off the clock, the Wolfpack players were justifiably elated, jumping up and down, hugging each other, crying and cheering. Their locker-room celebration was a joy to watch as well. Underdogs triumphing is simply one of the best parts of March.

What's next: NC State will take on No. 4 seed Louisville in the Sweet 16. One thing is certain: An ACC team will win that game.

No. 7 Michigan State Upsets No. 2 Virginia in Round of 32

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Turning point: Michigan State's Travis Trice started the game on fire, scoring 13 of his team's first 15 points. But it was his 28-foot three-pointer with time running out on the shot clock with three minutes left in the game that increased the lead from five to eight and all but sealed the upset, 60-54.

"That was a dagger three," Virginia coach Tony Bennett told reporters after the game, as reported by the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "It was an NBA three. … When you have a guy like Trice making those shots down the stretch, that is what makes you advance in this tournament."

Bracket impact: Do people really still pick against Tom Izzo on the first weekend of March Madness? Apparently they do. While Michigan State was a trendy pick to make it to the second weekend, this victory still blew the East Region wide-open, particularly when combined with No. 1 seed Villanova's loss to NC State.

What we'll remember: We'll remember Trice's performance. He had to play 39 minutes of the game since other guards were in foul trouble, but he persevered. 

The senior had a marquee performance with 23 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. This was the best performance of his NCAA career at the moment when his team needed him the most. 

"He was playing on will and guts, refusing to let this be the final game of his career," Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press wrote. 

What's next: Michigan State will play No. 3 seed Oklahoma in the Sweet 16.