Lehigh's Half-Court Buzzer-Beater Stuns Holy Cross 69-66
Nasir Whitlock heaved a prayer from half-court with 2.1 seconds left, sinking an impossible shot to send Lehigh to the semifinals. The Mountain Hawks are one step closer to their first NCAA tournament appearance since their legendary 2012 upset of Duke.
When Nasir Whitlock caught the inbound pass with 2.1 seconds on the clock, down by three, he had just enough time for one desperate shot. What happened next was pure March magic.
The Lehigh senior took two dribbles and launched from half-court. The ball sailed through the air at the Patriot League tournament and dropped through the net as the buzzer sounded, giving the Mountain Hawks a stunning 69-66 victory over Holy Cross on Thursday night.
Whitlock's teammates mobbed him at center court as the impossible became reality. The shot capped an extraordinary individual performance where he scored 29 points on 11-for-24 shooting, including nine points in the final two and a half minutes alone.
The game had swung back and forth all night. Lehigh jumped out to a 16-7 lead early and held a five-point advantage at halftime, but Holy Cross stormed back in the second half with a 15-6 run to take control.
With 2:43 remaining, the Crusaders led by six points and seemed poised to advance. But Whitlock refused to let his team's season end, hitting free throws and a layup to keep Lehigh within striking distance.
Teammate Hank Alvey tied the game with a layup at 1:12, but Holy Cross' Gabe Warren answered with a jumper at 21 seconds. Whitlock tied it again at 11 seconds, forcing Holy Cross to inbound the ball with one last chance to win.
A bad pass gave possession back to Lehigh. One final inbound, two dribbles, and one unforgettable heave later, the Mountain Hawks were celebrating.
Why This Inspires
This moment carries extra weight for a Lehigh program chasing history. The Mountain Hawks haven't made the NCAA tournament since 2012, when a 15-seed team led by future NBA star CJ McCollum shocked the college basketball world by upsetting second-seeded Duke.
Now they're one win away from another shot at the Big Dance. Whitlock's heroics give them a Friday semifinal matchup against third-seeded Colgate, with everything on the line.
Sometimes the shots you have no business making are the ones that matter most.
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Based on reporting by Fox News Latest Headlines (all sections)
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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