The lowest scoring game in the history of the NCAA Tournament took place in 1941, when North Carolina beat Pittsburgh, 26-20.
Many of the lowest-scoring games of all time took place prior to the implementation of the shot clock in 1985. The scores are noticeably lower than in almost any modern game.'
As a result, they look more like college football scores than college basketball scores.'
Lowest-Scoring Games in March Madness History (All Time)
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| Score | Total Points | Year | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| USC 38, Colorado 32 | 70 | 1940 | Round 1 |
| Indiana 39, Duquesne 30 | 69 | 1940 | Round 1 |
| Wisconsin 36, Pittsburgh 30 | 66 | 1941 | Final Four |
| Duquesne 30, Western Kentucky 29 | 59 | 1940 | Round 1 |
| Pittsburgh 26, North Carolina 20 | 46 | 1941 | Round 1 |
Nothing quite comes close to those all-time rock fights from the 1940s, but there are still a handful of ultra-low-scoring games from the last 20 years.