Michigan star makes the classiest of moves after incredible buzzer-beater
Losing on a buzzer-beater is tough, no matter the circumstances.
Losing on a buzzer-beater in an NCAA tournament elimination game — watching your dreams of playing in the Sweet 16 evaporate before your eyes? That’s really hard to swallow.
In Saturday’s second-round matchup, third-seeded Michigan beat sixth-seeded Houston 64-63 on a buzzer beater 3-pointer by Michigan’s Jordan Poole.
In the aftermath, we saw the pure elation of Michigan, the complete dejection of Houston, and a fantastic display of great sportsmanship by the Wolverines’ Mo Wagner.
https://twitter.com/MGoFish/status/975225273988911104
First, here’s how it all went down. With 3.6 seconds left, Houston was leading 63-61 when senior forward Devin Davis missed two free throws.
After a timeout, the in-bounds pass went to Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who dribbled up and passed to Poole on the wing.
Poole, a freshman, threw up an off-balance 3-pointer, legs splayed as he shot, and it found the bottom of the net as time expired to give Michigan the win.
MICHIGAN WINS IT AT THE BUZZER!!!! 🚨🚨🚨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/COR9MEjX59
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2018
“I was thirsty because I’ve been hitting shots like that in practice all year,” Poole said after the game via the Detroit News. “I just feel like I always want to be in a situation like that at the end of the game and my teammates constantly tell me I got ice in my veins, so I definitely was thirsty. I saw that people were [covering] him so I was open.”
As Poole and the Wolverines celebrated, Houston players sat in stunned disbelief.
But in the middle of it all, Michigan’s Wagner stopped for a moment to console Houston junior Corey Davis Jr.
Wagner put his arm around Davis, said a few encouraging words, and then continued on with the celebration.
I really enjoyed watching Houston’s Corey Davis compete. And then he suffered this.
Man.
But then a classy move from Mo Wagner.
What a way to finish in Wichita. pic.twitter.com/CHZqeq7lWp— Jeffrey Parson (@JeffreyParson) March 18, 2018
It was a great moment to end a great game.
Before Davis missed those final two free throws, he made two free throws with 44 seconds left to give Houston the lead, and then made another with 26 seconds left to put the Cougars up 63-61.
Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman led Michigan with 12 points apiece, while Rob Gray paced Houston with 23 and Davis had 17.
Michigan awaits the winner of North Carolina and Texas A&M in the round of 16.
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