2012 NCAA Bracket, Wichita State - VCU Score: Rams Pull Off Upset In Tournament's First Thriller

There’s always a moment during the third Thursday in March that allows you to declare that the NCAA Tournament has (un)officially begun.

This year, that statement was made around the country during the final minutes of tonight’s VCU – Wichita State thriller, as the Rams advanced through to the third round with a 62-59 victory.

Up 12 with more than 15 minutes remaining, Shaka Smart’s club saw its lead evaporate, even finding themselves down one point in the games final moments, before a Darius Theus jumper with 18 seconds remaining sealed the victory.

If you're scoring at home, that continues the streak of a12 seed beating a 5 seed one more season.

I should have known.

Senior-laden and drawing Final Four attention from some brave national media members late into Feburary, it looked as though the Shockers were primed for a run in this tournament, but once again Shaka Smart and his fearless ballclub sparked another upset in the month of March.

Wichita State's leading scorer and rebounder Garrett Stutz had a chance to send the game into overtime, but his three-point attempt clanked off the rim as time expired. As a seven-footer who has only made 10 three-pointers all year, it probably wasn't the look Shockers head coach Gregg Marshall was looking for to keep his team's season alive.

VCU now advances to play the winner of tonight's Indiana - New Mexico State game.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.