On April 2, 1986, one of the most remarkable seasons in college basketball history culminated with the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Duke Blue Devils at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Louisville, led by "Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison, Billy Thompson, and Milt Wagner, had an impressive run through the tournament, including a thrilling 84-76 victory over LSU in the Final Four. Duke, coached by a young Mike Krzyzewski, featured players like Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, and Jay Bilas, and had defeated Kansas 71-67 in the other semifinal.
The championship game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading leads throughout. With the game tied at 54-54 and just 5 seconds remaining in regulation, Duke's Johnny Dawkins missed a potential game-winning jumper, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Louisville's Pervis Ellison took over, scoring 8 of his 25 points and leading the Cardinals to a 72-69 victory. Ellison, a freshman, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, becoming the first freshman to receive the honor since 1944.
The win marked Louisville's second national championship, with their first coming in 1980. It also solidified coach Denny Crum's legacy, as he became just the second coach in NCAA history to win two titles.
The 1986 NCAA Championship game remains an iconic moment in college basketball history, remembered for its thrilling finish and the emergence of Pervis Ellison as a dominant force in the sport.
