5 Most Ridiculous Buzzer Beaters in NCAA History

One of the first things that comes to mind when the NCAA basketball is discussed is the amazing buzzer-beaters that have gone on to become tournament icons. Some of the greatest buzzer-beaters have benefited the best programs in the country. Because of the significance of those famous events, some of them will live on in history forever.

Throughout the years, NCAA basketball has seen some incredible on-court events. They include end-to-end sprints, clutch three-pointers, and half-court shots.

 1. Southern Utah stuns NM state

Cherita Daugherty of Southern Utah defeated the New Mexico State women 62-61 in the WAC Tournament Quarterfinals by sinking a one-handed, fade-away three-pointer with two defenders in her face. Due to its difficulty, Daugherty’s shot went viral right away on social media, helping the Thunderbirds advance to the WAC Semifinals and bringing NMSU’s season to an immediate end with a 16-16 record.

In their first year in the conference, Southern Utah advanced to the WAC Tournament semifinals because of the combined efforts of Tomekia Whitman, who scored the most points (18), and Daugherty, who scored 14 points and made the greatest shot of her life.

2. Caitlin Clark’s inbound pass

During a dramatic game on one Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Hawkeyes were called for a late foul, which made it look like they might lose. However, Caitlin Clark had a different plan.

Clark made a brilliant buzzer-beater, leading Iowa to win by 86-85. Clark received an inbound ball on the wing with only 1.5 seconds remaining in the game and made her 3-pointer over Indiana’s Chloe Moore-McNeil, resulting in an ecstatic celebration.

3. Kris Jenkins vs. North Carolina

In 2016, Villanova memorably won the national championship. Kris Jenkins surprised North Carolina, who had just tied the game, with a long three-pointer that beat the buzzer and gave the Wildcats their first championship since 1985.

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Ryan Arcidiacono drove the ball down the left side of the floor, passing it to Jenkins, who made the game-winning shot. Villanova’s five players on the court during that time were Phil Booth, Jenkins, Arcidiacono, Ochefu, and Hart. Arcidiacono received the inbound pass. In the backcourt, Ochefu was also ready to lay up a screen for Arcidiacono, which eventually ended up with Jenkins

4. Hunter Dickinson’s mid-way air shot

The Michigan Wolverines were trailing the Wisconsin Badgers by three points with just 2.1 seconds left in the game. At this crucial moment, Hunter Dickinson, the center for Michigan, received the inbound pass and made a basket. The ball was still in the air when the buzzer went off, and the Ann Arbor crowd erupted with joy. In the end, the Wolverines won 87-79 in overtime, thanks to Dickinson’s buzzer-beater.

To get to overtime, Hunter Dickinson had made a near-half-court heave. However, in the next five minutes, the Wolverines completely dominated the game. In the first half, Dickinson had scored 12 points and secured 4 rebounds, leading the Wolverines in both categories.

5. Paul Jesperson’s half-court heave

Over the past ten years, Northern Iowa has seen its fair share of exciting tournament moments, but Paul Jesperson’s game-winning performance against Texas in the first round of 2016 remains the most memorable. With just 2.7 seconds remaining, the Longhorns had tied the game at 72 points thanks to a series of baskets by Jesperson from half-court.

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After one round, Texas A&M forced overtime by rallying from a 12-point deficit in the last 44 seconds of regulation, handily defeating the Panthers in one of the worst losses in NCAA tournament history.