BUFFALO, N.Y., March 15 (UPI) -- Eric Maynor's jump shot with two seconds left Thursday gave Virginia Commonwealth a 79-77 first-round win over Duke in the NCAA Tournament's West Region.
VCU trailed, 40-38, after facing a 22-9 deficit with 10:03 left in the first half.
Later, the CAA tournament champions built a nine-point lead with 11:38 left.
Maynor led VCU with 22 points, eight assists and three rebounds. Jesse Pellot-Rosa and Jamal Shuler scored 14 points apiece for the 11th-seeded Rams (28-6), who have a four-game winning streak.
Greg Paulus led Duke with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists. Josh McRoberts added 22 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for the Blue Devils (22-11), who missed 12 free throws and lost in the first round at the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.
Duke had made nine straight Sweet 16 appearances.
