BEST AT THE BUZZER
Jalen Suggs’ midcourt bank shot Saturday to lead top-ranked Gonzaga over UCLA and into the title game vs. Baylor is just one of many last-second game-winners in March Madness history. Here are 10 others to reflect on:
PAUL JESPERSON NORTHERN IOWA
Round: First • When: 2016 Summary: Shaka Smart’s first season at Texas ended in heartbreak. The Longhorns had tied their first-round game against Northern Iowa with 2.7 seconds left on a drive by Isaiah Taylor. Northern Iowa didn’t take a timeout and passed to Jesperson just outside of halfcourt, and he banked the shot in off glass for the win.
BRYCE DREW VALPARAISO
Round: First • When: 1998 Summary: It’s only fitting, with Scott Drew in the title game with Baylor, to look at his brother Bryce’s shot. After two missed free throws by Ole Miss, Valpo made a length-of-the-court pass and then another in the final 2.5 seconds to set up Drew’s winning 3-pointer.
TATE GEORGE, UCONN
Round:Sweet 16 • When: 1990 Summary: With one second left, Scott Burrell threw a length-ofthe-court pass on the inbounds to George, who was able to spin and shoot from the right side and sink it to beat Clemson.
LORENZO CHARLES, N.C. STATE
Round: Title game • When: 1983
Summary: All talk of NCAA buzzer-beaters in Houston begin and end with the disappointment that night in Albuquerque, N.M. With the game tied, Benny Anders just missed a steal, and Dereck Whittenburg launched between the top of the key and midcourt. It was an airball, but Charles was at the side of the rim, having gotten inside of Hakeem Olajuwon, and caught it for the dunk and win.
CHRISTIAN LAETTNER, DUKE
Round: Elite Eight • When: 1992 Summary: Sean Woods had banked in a runner in the lane over Laettner to give Kentucky the lead with 2.1 seconds left in a back-and-forth final 30 seconds. Grant Hill threw a pass to Laettner at the opposite free-throw line, and after a quick spin, Laettner made the shot.
CHRISTIAN LAETTNER, DUKE
Round: Elite Eight • When: 1990 Summary: Up by one in overtime, UConn just missed a steal that would have won the game but instead tipped the ball out of bounds with 2.6 seconds left. Laettner got the ball back after the inbounds pass and sank the shot just inside the 3-point line.
KRIS JENKINS, VILLANOVA
Round: Title game • When: 2016
Summary: After North Carolina’s Marcus Paige hit an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game with 4.7 seconds left, Ryan Arcidiacono quickly drove up court and passed to Jenkins, who sank the 3-pointer from just outside the 3-point line for the win at NRG Stadium.
TYUS EDNEY, UCLA
Round: Second • When: 1995 Summary: The Bruins have been on the winning end, too. Missouri had just gone up by one with 4.8 seconds left. After a timeout, the top-ranked Bruins inbounded to Edney, who drove the length of the court and found a path to the basket for the win. UCLA went on to win the national title that year.
RIP HAMILTON, UCONN
Round: Sweet 16 • When: 1998 Summary: UConn missed its first two shots in the final seven seconds, but after getting another offensive rebound/tip, Hamilton hit a fadeaway from just inside the free-throw line for the 75-74 win over Washington.
U.S. REED, ARKANSAS
Round: Second • When: 1981 Summary: At the Erwin Center in Austin, defending champ Louisville went up by one with five seconds left. After a timeout, Reed dribbled to midcourt, slid to his right and hit nothing but net for the win.