This is March college basketball at its best, folks.
We officially have the first buzzer beater of March Madness.Not only did it magically materialize (as always), but he also had one player in particular get an incredible payoff…insert guard KJ Johnson of North Alabama.
Not only did Johnson advance North Alabama to the Atlantic Sun semifinals Tuesday night, he also eliminated his alma mater with the win — Johnson transferred from Lipscomb. (Related: March Madness: New Jersey high school basketball team wiped out in one of the most chaotic endings I've ever seen)
The game was tied with 4.3 seconds left. The inbounds pass was caught by Johnson in the backcourt, and before Lipscomb could set up his defense, Johnson decided to attack off the dribble. Although the shot was highly contested, the senior's running one-handed floater hit the target from the top of the key, resulting in the championship for North Alabama. 77-75 Won in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
And what makes things even crazier is that this entire episode happened with just seconds left after Lipscomb's three.
March Madness, everyone. March Madness.
clock:
Do you want madness?
I understand your madness!#RaiseTheROAR | #LowerLions 🦁🔥 pic.twitter.com/PTTwkq6W4t
— North Alabama Men's Basketball (@UNA_Basketball) March 6, 2024
Now you're ready to fill out your brackets, oh my!
Yeah, it's a little sad that soccer is gone and won't be back until August or September, but March really is one of the best times to be a sports fan. How can you not love college basketball here in tournament season?
The ending of this game is outrageous…and kudos to KJ Johnson for taking care of them.