Northwestern's first-ever March Madness win is a Julia Louis-Dreyfus miracle

The Northwestern Wildcats have still never lost an NCAA Tournament game. Better yet, they can even say they've won one now.

Making its first-ever March Madness appearance, the Chicago school better known for academics downed Vanderbilt 68-66 to advance in college basketball's biggest tournament Thursday night.

Never mind for now that the win came thanks largely to a jaw-dropping last-second fail by Vanderbilt's star -- we'll cover that in a second. History is history, and Northwestern's first March Madness victory ever ignited joyous celebrations online and off from the school's famous fans and alumni. First though, let's go inside the locker room.

After a dramatic final minute and postgame interviews, the pumped-up team was ready to ambush coach Chris Collins for an impromptu shower via paper Powerade cups.

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The team's most famous fans could hardly handle the closing moments.

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Yup. That's Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose son is a walk-on reserve for Northwestern -- and whose classic Selection Sunday tweet was a must-see. She was at Thursday's game with husband Brad Hall.

Go, Wildcats. Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

Here she is again, overjoyed for her son and his teammates.

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Collins' father is the former NBA coach Doug Collins. He, too, was overcome with emotion in the game's closing moments.

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Further boosting the aura around the Wildcats' win was that sports media is full of Northwestern alumni. Counted among those Northwestern grads now who now cover sports for a living are some of the more high-profile folks out there. Needless to say, they were pumped before, during and after Thursday's win.

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Now about just how Northwestern won. It's wild.

Vanderbilt was actually winning by a point with only 15 seconds to play when guard Matthew Fisher-Davis, who led the Commodores with 22 points, inexplicably fouled Bryant McIntosh, Northwestern's best player, on purpose.

Fisher-Davis (5) walk off the court as Northwestern celebrates. Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

It was a colossal blunder with no logical explanation. Fisher-Davis said simply after the game that he "got confused" before committing the intentional foul. Instead of Vanderbilt only needing to stop Northwestern from scoring for 15 seconds to finalize the win, Fisher-Davis' foul sent McIntosh to the free throw line. McIntosh sank both free throws and Northwestern stole the victory.

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This tweet sums the bizarre situation up well.

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But a win is a win, as they say, and this one made history.

Northwestern now looks to stay undefeated in NCAA Tournament history against powerhouse Gonzaga in the second round on Saturday.