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College basketball is back and day one of the 2020-21 season gave us more than its share of thrills. With dozens of games happening at once, it’s perfectly understandable if you missed some of the great finishes. Here are all of Wednesday’s buzzer-beaters and game-winners:
Bradley 61 vs Toledo 59
The Braves enter the season with hopes of cutting down the nets in St. Louis to win the MVC auto-bid for the third straight year. This was the start they were looking for.
TERRY NOLAN JR!!!!!!!
— Bradley Basketball (@bradleyumbb) November 25, 2020
️ pic.twitter.com/92nTRhggKg
SE Louisiana 63 at Purdue Fort Wayne 67 (OT)
The Dons led for 40 minutes of the overtime contest but needed this late layup from Jalon Pipkins to go ahead in the closing seconds.
Jalon Pipkins puts the ‘Dons up 64-63 with 12.1 left.#GoDons pic.twitter.com/Py2JVR6kbJ
— Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Basketball (@MastodonMBB) November 26, 2020
UIC 65 at NIU 61
Down 22 in the second half, the Fightin’ Luke Yakliches battled back to earn a tough win on the road. RayQuawndis Mitchell hit the go-ahead three you see below with 16 seconds left.
Go ahead 3 for @UIC_MBB pic.twitter.com/ewTYoVgGDX
— Michael Lipitz (@Michael_Lipitz) November 26, 2020
Southern Utah 83 at LMU 85
Jalin Anderson career games: 1
Jalin Anderson career game-winning buzzer-beaters: 1
The freshman Anderson was in the right place at the right time to pick up the loose ball and knock down the baseline jumper to lift Loyola Marymount over Southern Utah.
He called game. pic.twitter.com/lZHAGPK5EO
— LMU Men's Basketball (@lmulionsMBB) November 26, 2020
FAU 66 at South Alabama 68
Last, but not least, if you prefer your buzzer-beaters fully equipped with emotional storylines and happy endings, you got one down in Mobile, Alabama.
Mike Flowers saw his father, Henry, endure a lengthy battle with cancer. The senior South Alabama guard missed about a week of practice earlier in the year to be with him back in Michigan as he fought. Tragically, Henry passed away just two days before the Jags’ season opener against FAU.
It was only fitting that he got his team’s final shot.
South Alabama guard Mike Flowers lost his father, Henry, two days ago. That came only four years after the death of his mother. Tonight, Flowers hit the winning shot at home with one second remaining against Florida Atlantic. The best story of college basketball's opening day. https://t.co/83lnavornl
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 26, 2020