28 most memorable buzzer beaters in March Madness history

28: A Coach trusts his senior

Not many people have heard of Morehead State, a small school in Kentucky. But in 2011, one kid put this school’s name on the map as he upset Louisville with a pull up jumper to win the game.

His name was Demonte Harper. A senior guard from Nashville, Tennessee, who with the help of his team, led the Eagles to an NCAA tournament berth after winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The stage was set for something crazy to happen as they were paired up against heavily favored Louisville led by their experienced Coach Rick Pitinio in the round of 64.

Morehead State retained possession with the shot clock off, trailing by two points. Coach Donnie Tyndall called a timeout and set up his final play.

“He said I know exactly who I’m going to,” Harper said during a post-game press conference remembering what his coach said during those final moments. “I’m going to put the ball in your hands, Demonte, and you’re going to pull up for a 3-point shot and win us the game. So then I said Coach I’m gonna hit the shot.”

And he did just that. A perfectly executed hesitation move got his defender off him for just a second. Long enough for Harper to pull up and sink a three-point jumper to pull off one of the greatest upsets and buzzer beaters in the history of college basketball.

Pretty risky move, considering Harper was 0-for-5 that game from beyond the arc. But Coach Tyndall had confidence in his senior, and it paid off.

Morehead State went on to lose to Richmond in the round of 32, but a school with an enrollment of only 9,000 will forever remember upsetting Louisville on the biggest stage in college basketball.

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