Wrapping Up 2023 – NCAA’s Top 5 Buzzer Beaters of the Year

When it comes to NCAA basketball, one of the things that stands out is the thrilling buzzer-beaters that have become tournament classics. These moments of high drama have been responsible for some of the most unforgettable moments in college basketball history. From half-court heaves and clutch three-pointers to end-to-end sprints, NCAA basketball has seen some incredible on-court action in recent years.

These buzzer-beaters have proven to be game-changers for top programs in the nation, and their significance will continue to be remembered for generations to come. The year 2023 had no shortage of such elements, as it was filled with many thrilling moments to cherish, some of which we have compiled for you.

Vanderbilt stuns No. 6 Tennessee with a last-second 3-pointer

With a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat the nation’s sixth-ranked team, Vanderbilt ended an 11-game losing run against their in-state rival Tennessee, 66-65. The game’s concluding seconds dragged on for many minutes. With less than 30 seconds left, Vanderbilt was down two points and had just two team fouls.

The Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi missed the front end of a one-and-one, forcing the Commodores to foul Tennessee five times in the last fifteen seconds in order to have a chance to reclaim the ball. Head coach Jerry Stackhouse of Vanderbilt had four seconds to come up with a plan after moving the ball and calling a timeout.

Tyrin Lawrence was wide open in the corner after a drive down the lane was initiated with the intention of making a play. Just as the last whistle blew, Lawrence sank the shot, setting up a court-storming jubilation among the home fans.

Notre Dame women’s basketball’s buzzer-beating jumper

With a score of 76–76, Notre Dame was poised to go into double overtime against a resilient Louisville squad. Olivia Miles changed it all as she made a fade-to-the-right one-dribble pull-up shot with a little over two seconds remaining. It was right before time ran out, and it looked fantastic off her fingertips.

The Irish won 78-76 in overtime thanks to the game-winning basket. There were 13 lead changes in the game, including the last one on the penultimate play, and 14 ties. The Cardinals led for 29:34 as opposed to Notre Dame’s 6:05, despite several ups and downs. Miles came just short of a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, but she did make one of her greatest shots of the season.

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Caitlin Clark scores at the buzzer to beat No. 2 Indiana

The buzzer-beater 3-pointer made by junior guard Caitlin Clark gave the sixth-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team an advantage over the second-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. In the final game of the regular season, Clark defeated the Big Ten champion Hoosiers by coming off a down screen, grabbing the in-bounds ball at the wing, and drilling the three at the buzzer with 1.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

In front of a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Hawkeyes prevailed 86-85, solidifying the legend of Clark, the Iowa native whose numerous skills included “shooting from the logo.” Last season, she topped Division I women’s basketball in both assists and points per game. This year, she leads the league in assists average and is among the top three in scoring average.

For Iowa, Clark scored at the conclusion of each quarter: a layup to conclude the first, a jump shot right before the half, free throws to close out the third, and the game-winning three. The last shot was set up by a play that Lisa Bluder, the Hawkeyes coach, claimed she saw while watching the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces during the summer.

A 60-foot buzzer-beater

Arizona State completely stunned its main rival as Desmond Cambridge Jr. made a play in the last seconds of Saturday’s game in Tucson to help the Sun Devils beat No. 7 Arizona, 88-86. Arizona’s Oumar Ballo hit a free throw with 2.9 seconds remaining to put the Wildcats ahead 88-86.

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Cambridge then intercepted the inbounds ball and scored from just outside the half-court line. Desmond Cambridge Jr.’s 60-foot shot at the buzzer helped Arizona State overcome a 10-point deficit to upset No. 7 Arizona 89-88 in a Pac-12 men’s basketball contest. Cambridge stunned the McKale Center audience by snatching the ball with 2.4 seconds remaining.

Trey Bonham of Chattanooga beats the buzzer from the half-court logo

During a recent early-season game, Chattanooga’s men’s basketball team made a remarkable comeback against Gardner-Webb after trailing by as many as 17 points in the second minute of regulation. The Mocs managed to reduce the gap by dominating in the crucial moments of the game.

Led by Jan Zidek, who finished 4-5 from three and scored a game-high 27 points, the team’s performance was remarkable. In the final minute, senior guard Trey Bonham hit a three-pointer to get the game within one possession, and a Tyler Millin three-pointer tied the game at 66 with only 10 seconds remaining.

With just 0.5 seconds left on the clock, Bonham launched a prayer towards the hoop from just outside the half-court line, approximately 48 feet away, with a chest heave. His miraculous shot went in and won the game for the Mocs. Bonham scored a total of 15 points and seven rebounds by the end of the game, which was his highest score in over a year. It’s worth noting that after transferring from Florida, Bonham had only played in one game prior to this one, which was against Alabama A&M this season, where he scored 14 points and provided three assists.