SMU's Boopie Miller Sinks Half-Court Shot to Win Game

Sometimes the basketball gods reward pure confidence, and Wednesday night in Dallas proved it.

SMU senior guard Boopie Miller caught a full-court inbounds pass with seconds left, pushed past a Virginia Tech defender, and launched a prayer from half-court. The ball sailed through the air as 7,000 fans held their breath, then splashed through the net at the buzzer, flipping a seemingly certain loss into a 77-76 victory.

The moment felt even sweeter considering what Miller had just battled through. The Mustangs' star guard had recently fought the flu, losing nearly 10 pounds of muscle he'd worked all offseason to gain. Coach Andy Enfield marveled that Miller even managed to play 35 minutes in his weakened state.

"For him to be able to play 35 minutes is a credit to him," Enfield said after the game. "Just tells you who he is as a player, who he is as a person."

Miller, who entered the game averaging 20.8 points and 7.9 assists this season, stayed cool under the ultimate pressure. When asked about the shot, he didn't hesitate: "I missed too many free throws, so I knew it was going in."

His teammate Samet Yigotoglu couldn't help but laugh when asked if he thought the shot would fall. "Um... yeah," he said, grinning.

The win meant more than just highlight reel material for SMU. The Mustangs snapped a two-game losing streak and secured just their second ACC victory of the season, improving to 13-4 overall.

Why This Inspires

Miller's shot reminds us that sometimes showing up is half the battle. He could have sat out to recover fully from the flu. Instead, he dragged himself onto the court, trusted his preparation, and delivered when his team needed him most.

The confidence to take that shot after missing free throws earlier shows the mental toughness athletes build through adversity. Miller turned frustration into fuel, and a weakened body into a winning performance.

One magical moment in Dallas proved that courage and confidence can overcome physical limitations.