Xavier has most unlikely back-to-back possessions in NCAA Tournament history
Mar 25, 2017, 4:30 PM
If someone tried to describe to you what happened at the end of the first half between Xavier and Gonzaga, you wouldn’t believe them.
With the score at 47-37 Gonzaga, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett missed a step-back jumper with under 30 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs had three players near the rim, making the defensive rebound seem likely and for the Zags to have the last shot of the half.
Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams attempted to come down with the rebound, but Xavier’s RaShid Gaston was so aggressive in his pursuit for an offensive rebound that Williams felt he had to have one arm on him in order to secure the ball.
OFF THE FLOOR AND IN! #Elite8 pic.twitter.com/3hXUWUI6P1
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 25, 2017
With only one hand on the ball, Williams appeared to try to either palm the ball or slam it down to the ground for one dribble to catch it with two hands. What wound up happening was Williams bobbling the catch off the bounce and the ball bounced off him, the backboard and in the hoop.
While everyone watching was trying to recover and figure out what happened, Nigel Williams-Goss scored for Gonzaga, restoring their 10-point with under three seconds remaining.
With a running clock on the inbound, Xavier guard J.P. Macura received essentially a hand-off pass from his teammate, took one dribble and then hurled the ball across the court to beat the buzzer.
This didn't count but WOW! #Elite8 pic.twitter.com/YyL7pvIM0U
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 25, 2017
Gonzaga’s bench was already on the court to head to the locker room as Macura’s miraculous heave went in, but the replays revealed the shot was no good.
