FSU Gets Win over Florida on Tipped Basket

Ooopsie!

It's bad enough to lose a rivalry game. It's worse when you lose the game on your own mistake.

Which is exactly what happened Tuesday night in the FSU vs. Florida game in Tallahassee.

Here's the set-up: Game tied at 63 with just over 2 seconds left in the hard fought game. Florida State throws the ball in. Devon Brookert is forced by the defense to throw up a 3-pointer from deep in the right corner.

Brandon's shot is short and Gators forward Jacob Kurtz goes up to knock the ball away from the hoop.

One problem--Kurtz didn't do a very good job of knocking the ball away. With just 0.4 seconds left, his soft tip hits the rim and goes in. Basket counts---For the Seminoles.

The stunned Gators just shake their collective heads while the FSU faithful stare at the play for a second before they realize what happened and start celebrating the crazy win.

Morning Wrap: SDSU Fwd Polee Collapses On Court During Game

((ht: foxsports.com))

A scary few minutes Tuesday night in San Diego when San Diego State forward Dwayne Polee II passed out face first on the court during the Aztecs game with UC Riverside.

Polee had just missed a layup early in the 1st half of the game and as he turned to run back down the court, he fell and landed in front of the bench.

Paramedics were at the gym and immediately got Polee hooked up to an EKG machine. After a couple seconds of grogginess, his eyes opened.

According to reports, he didn't require oxygen or any other treatment, but he was wheeled off the court and taken to a nearby hospital for observation and tests.

The Aztecs, initially stunned and shocked at what happened eventually recovered and beat Riverside handily, 67-33.

FoxSports.com gives us video and game highlights:

Morning Wrap: Kentucky Embarrasses UCLA in Hoops

((ht: cbssports.com))

The game was over after UCLA could manage only 7 points in the first half.

Yes...seven...

Twenty minutes into their CBS Classic (made for TV) game vs. top ranked Kentucky, the Bruins trailed 41-7.

Did we mention it was 24-0 before UCLA finally got on the scoreboard?

Kentucky's long line of 6-10 plus athletes tormented UCLA, holding the Bruins to 3 for 37 shooting in the first half. After Wildcats coach John Calipari called off the dogs in the second half, UCLA managed to make the game a little closer.

The final score 83-44.

Devin Booker had 19 points and Aaron Harrison chipped in 15 for Kentucky who was able to empty the bench and shot 50 percent as a team on the night.

The Wildcats, at least early in season are proving to be the best team in all the land. And while there are still three months to go, nobody else looks to be even close.

Your highlights from CBSSports.com:

Bearcats Coach Mick Cronin Sits Out With Aneurysm

University of Cincinnati's head basketball coach Mick Cronin missed his teams game on Saturday and is likely to miss a few more while being treated at the school's hospital for what was termed an "Unruptured Aneurysm".

The 43-year old Cronin had been complaining the past few weeks about headaches and got a series of tests early in the week.

That's when doctors noticed the Aneurysm. Thankfully, it had not yet done anything other than cause discomfort. Cronin is resting comfortably at the hospital and is keeping track of his team.

He also tweeted out his thanks to Bearcat fans and other for their support.

I want everyone to know I am going to be ok!! I just can't coach for precautionary reasons with my medical condition.
— Mick Cronin (@CoachCroninUC) December 20, 2014

I hope to be back ASAP but that will not be my call. As I love to say " I am always day to day. " so that really applies now.
— Mick Cronin (@CoachCroninUC) December 20, 2014

Morning Wrap: E.Kentucky Destroys #18 Miami in Hoops

((ht: espn.com))

Geez...what happened here? Eastern Kentucky...to quote the Rock "Laid the Smackdown" on the University of Miami basketball team Friday night beating the 'Canes 72-44.

Yes, the Colonels from the Ohio Valley Conference beat the Hurricanes from the mighty ACC by 28. And it wasn't that close.

Ok..it was. Eastern had a 2-point lead at the half. But a 22-2 run coming out of the blocks in the 2nd half did the trick.

And created one of the early seasons bigger surprises. Not that Miami would have been an ACC title contender, but they are supposedly pretty good. However on Friday night Eastern Kentucky handed them their worst home loss since 1997.

Corey Walden led the Colonels with 18 points on the night.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

Morning Wrap: Lauren Hill Becomes Honorary College Hoops Coach

((ht: wcpo.com))

The battle has moved from playing to coaching. In many ways, Lauren Hill, the 19-year old freshman  at Mount St. Joseph's college near Cincinnati has already won.

Hill, battling inoperable brain cancer, played in five games this season scoring 10-points. But the game last Tuesday (Dec.11th) is going to be her last.

She will no longer be on the active roster, but the school has allowed her to stay close to her team and her teammates by becoming an honorary coach.

As many know, Hill is battling DIPG, a rare cancer of the brain. And her prognosis is that she would not make it past Christmas. She began hospice care just two weeks ago. But she continues to battle.

Her dream was to play college basketball and she got that wish.

She's also helped spearhead a drive for research into a cure for her disease. The goal is to raise $1 million and she's almost there. Her "Cure Starts Now Foundation" has already reached the $700,000 mark.

Here's some video of Lauren playing in her last game from our friends at WCPO.com:

Lauren Hill Scores Opening Basket in Home Opener

((ht: d3hoops.com))

She keeps inspiring everyone who hears or sees her story.

Mount St. Joseph's University freshman basketball player Lauren Hill scored the first two points of her teams game Saturday afternoon in their home opener.

And it was a big deal.

Why? By now, many have heard Lauren's story. Suffering from inoperable brain cancer, (DIPG) it's been her dream to be able to play college basketball.

And while she's had a lot of ups and downs, she's delivered on that promise.

From scoring in the teams first game of the season against Xavier in front of 10,000+ screaming fans to Saturday night, she's yet to disappoint.

Just recently we reported Lauren had been struggling, the cancer eating away at her and sapping her energy. Her family began Hospice care for her. But it appears she may just have been saving her strength.

She managed to make it up and down the court a couple more times before leaving the game and cheering on her teammates for the rest of the night.

The Lions didn't win the game, but they gained even more fans.

Follow Lauren's cause and her battle by checking out her The Cure Starts Now Foundation Website

WCPO.com gives us highlights from Lauren's night:

Morning Wrap: Incarnate Word Stuns Nebraska in Hoops

((ht: espn.com))

Basketball is a wonderful equalizer. Just ask the various D-1 College Teams who have found that out the hard way early this College Basketball season.

You can now add a new team to the list.

Incarnate Word, a small college team from San Antonio, Texas who made the jump from Division II to D-1 just last year took down Big 12 Nebraska in what's considered a significant upset.

The Cardinals got a 74-73 win, but it took a fumbled inbounds pass from Terran Petteway of Nebraska and baseline fadeaway jumper from Kyle Hittle of Incarnate who got the steal with just under 5 seconds left to secure the win.

Incarnate is in the midst of a solid start this season, the win moved them to 6-1. Nebraska dropped to 5-3. Hittle lead the Cardinals with 18 points. Terran Petteway had 18 for Nebraska.

NJIT Upsets Michigan: Yeah, We Didn't Have That One, Either

((HT: BTN))

After Yale knocked off UConn yesterday, the HQ thought that this end of the college hoops season might be one of THOSE college basketball seasons.

We might be right...

NJIT (the New Jersey Institute of Technology) has been a traditional doormat since they promoted themselves up to Division I athletics. They've been around D1 since 2006-07 and, at one point, lost 51 in a row in their transitional phase. But the losing streak doesn't count in the stacks because of the classification.

As the only independent in D1, they have to take a lot of road game paychecks- one of them is the game at Crisler Arena against Michigan this afternoon. The end result comes up as one of the early season shockers.

Josh Lewin and Stephen Bardo have the recap


When you hit almost 60-percent from the floor and you're good from three-point, this is what you get sometimes...

Good for the Highlanders...

Here's how the voice of the Highlanders Matt Provence called the end of the game.

Morning Wrap: UAB Student Blackout Dominates Hoops Game

((ht: wiat.com))

The #FreeUAB movement in Birmingham continued Thursday night as students and the Football team were featured attractions at the mens basketball team beat Morehead State at Bartow Arena.

Chanting Free UAB and holding signs saying Fire Ray Watts, the students were very visible, dressed entirely in black.

The football players were overwhelmed with the support received and took to the court during the first half of the game to express their gratitude.

While the students said this is only the beginning, they plan continuing the protests as long as they are able.

The Blazers football team was dissolved just four days earlier in what the school termed a "Financial Decision". The team finished the season 6-6 and bowl eligible for the 1st time in 10-years though it appears they will not get a bowl opportunity. Conference USA has more teams that finished bowl eligible than bowl spots.

UAB's only chance would be as an at-large choice and no bowl game seems to be willing to take them on and the publicity that may go along with it.

More on Thursday night's protest from WIAT-TV in Birmingham:

Ashland's Cole Krizancic Ends A 4 Overtime Thriller With A Buzzer Beater

For those lucky few who attended the Grand Valley State - Ashland game in Ashland, Ohio last night saw one hell of a basketball game.

The game went four overtimes and ended when Ashland's Cole Krizancic's nailed a corner three at the buzzer for a 93-92 win for the Eagles.

Here's the video of Krizancic's game winning three in the 4th overtime.


"The play basically was Wendell (Davis) to get up the floor, and Boo (Osborne) and I were in the corners," Krizancic said. "It's definitely huge."

"I'm so proud of him," Ashland head coach John Ellenwood said. "Cole hasn't had the easiest road here. To hit that shot, I'm very proud of him. He's just a winner, and that's why he's in an Eagle uniform."

Ashland is 6-0 on the season.

Basketball Referee KO'd During Tip-Off

College basketball official David Hall doesn't remember much about the overtime of the #8 Wichita State and #25 Utah game.

After tossing the ball for the overtime tip off Hall took a elbow to the noggin and went down.

#8 Wichita State Won't Be Undefeated This Year, #25 Utah Takes Care Of Shockers 69-68 In OT

Wichita State ran the table last year in the regular season, not this year.

You would think the Shockers were destined to pull it off against Utah.  Down by nine late in the second half Wichita State went on a 11-0 run to take a 60-58 lead until Tekele Cotton fouled the Utes Dakarai Tucker with :19 left.

Tucker hit a pair of freebies to sent the game into overtime 60-60.

The game stayed tight in overtime but Utah prevailed when Delon Wright nailed the game winner with :14 left in overtime to give the Utes a huge victory over Wichita State 69-68.


"I knew I had to make a play," Wright said. "I looked for Brandon Taylor but he wasn't open and I found a way to get into the lane and make a shot."

"It was tough," Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "Our guys just hung in there."

In Krystkowiak's first year at Utah iin the 2011-12 season the Utes won only six games.  Methodically Krystkowiak has increased the win total and talent.

Wednesday night in Salt Lake City was the opportunity the Utes were looking for to get a signature win over Wichita State.

"It's a surreal feeling to see the way this program has turned around a complete 180," Dakarai Taylor said. "I was so hyped out there."

"It was just a gritty game with two teams going at it all night," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "They were just one point better."

The Shockers had won 35 straight regular season games before the loss to Utah.

Wichita State didn't have a comfortable night shooting only 38.1 percent from the field and had a hard time buying a basket in the overtime going 2-7 from the field.

Utah had four players in double figures and shot 42.9 percent from the field and out rebounded Wichita State 40-37.

"This is huge for us and huge for our program." Delon Wright said.  "This is the type of game we have always lost in the past and this time we found a way to get it done,"

Lauren Hill Entering Hospice Care: Fight Continues

((ht: wcpo.com))

By now, most of you have heard the story of Lauren Hill.

The 19-year old basketball player for Mount St. Joseph's college in the Cincinnati area has been battling inoperable brain cancer and has become somewhat of a national hero.

Back on November 2nd, Hill made headlines when she scored twice in a game against Xavier in front of nearly 10,000 fans.

And her battle has gone nationwide too.

Between the Layup for Lauren challenge, which is bringing attention to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma.

You can see the Facebook page for the Challenge RIGHT HERE

You can also go to her CureStartsNow Page RIGHT HERE

Today, her family announced that Lauren has entered Hospice care. Doctors had told her she wouldn't make it to Christmas. She is out to try and prove them wrong.

But she's been struggling.

She last played in a game November 21st and she has not been seen out in public much since then.

We hope for the best for her and her family and hope she realizes how many people she has touched with her battle.

Here's the news out of Cincinnati
((HT: Local12.com))

BUZZER BEATER: Zarko The Maine Man For Black Bears

Starting the season 0-5 is no fun and the Maine Black Bears needed a win Tuesday night against Wagner.

Enter Zarko Valjarevic whose catch and shoot buzzer beater in overtime gave the Black Bears their first win of the season 82-81.




“Our guys trusting me, putting me in that spot, I just have to make it this time and it went in, so it’s good — first win,” Valjarevic was quoted in the Banger Daily News.

Valjarevic ended the game with 17 points.

“I like the pressure. I like the challenge,”  Valjarevic said on taking the last shot.

BUZZER BEATER: Eric Laster Was In The Right Place At The Right Time For Greyhounds

Eric Laster is Loyola's (MD) leading scorer however Tuesday night against Columbia the Lions had held Laster without a field goal until the last possible second of the game.




Laster's buzzer beater gave the Greyhounds a 64-62 win over Columbia and ended the Greyhounds three game losing streak.

BUZZER BEATER: Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes Crazy Lay Up At The Buzzer

The video quality is very poor because it's from a fan's camera phone but Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes takes the inbounds pass from Spencer Parker and puts up a wild contested lay up at the buzzer and wins it for the Falcons 64-63 over Detroit.





Holmes' buzzer beater capped off a brilliant performance with 26 points and 18 rebounds.

Here's a cleaner look under the basket.

BUZZER BEATER: Half Court Bomb Is A Winner For Southern Utah

Another long range game winning bomb this time from Southern Utah's A.J. Hess.

With the Thunderbirds down 92-90 to Texas-San Antonio with 2.5 seconds left Hess took the inbounds pass, dribbled once and launched from about 40 feet and banked it home for the game winner.




The T-Birds win it 93-92.  James McGee lead SUU with 21 points.

Morning Wrap: George Mason With the 75 Foot Buzzer Beater Win

((ht: george mason athletics))

Whoa!

George Mason basketball fans are still celebrating a crazy win over Manhattan Saturday night in an NCAA Basketball game.

The reason. Well, watch the video below.

Down 63-61, Manhattan's Shane Richards misses the back end of a 2-shot free throw attempt.

George Mason's Jalen Jenkins grabs the rebound, takes a couple of dribbles and launches the ball from about 75 feet away.

Yup, it goes in, the Patriots get the 64-63 win and chaos ensues in the George Mason gymnasium...

Here's your video from George Mason their own selves:

BUZZER BEATER: Conner Boehm With The Game Winner For Dartmouth Over IPFW

Dartmouth's Conner Boehm attempted only one three pointer yesterday against IPFW.

It just so happen to be the dagger that slayed the Mastodons.


Game to Dartmouth 68-67

Boehm finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds.