Furman shocked the world and busted a ton of brackets with its huge win over four-seed Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament ... and the school's best player ever couldn't be happier!!
TMZ Sports spoke with Paladins legend Frank Selvy about No. 13 Furman advancing to the second round of the tourney on Thursday ... and he says the victory was "the best win all-time at Furman."
Furman sealed the win over the Cavaliers after intercepting a pass with just seconds to go ... and JP Pegues pulled up from three to give the Paladins the 68-67 win -- the program's first tourney victory in nearly 50 years.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 😨
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
FURMAN WITH THE STEAL AND 3 TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 2.2 SECONDS REMAINING #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fSCNKUzboq
"We all went crazy over that because we thought we lost," the former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick added.
Of course, Selvy famously scored 100 points in a game in 1954 ... which remains a single-game record to this day.
He says Pegues' game-winner brought back memories of his historic night.
"It reminded me of my 100-point shot when I made it from midcourt with time running out, with a couple people guarding me. I threw it up from midcourt, and it went in for the 100 points."
Selvy had a ton of praise for Paladins coach Bob Richey ... saying, "He knows more about basketball than any coach I’ve ever seen. The formations and the executions of plays and everything, great guy."
Selvy says he hasn't spoken to the team ... but if he had the chance??
"I would just tell them how proud I was of them and keep it going."
As for Furman's matchup against San Diego State in the second round ... Frank thinks the Paladins have a legitimate shot at winning -- and his wife/Paladins superfan, Barbara, is guaranteeing a victory!!