March Madness: 25 greatest buzzer-beaters in NCAA Tournament history

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats takes a shot over Joel Berry II #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the NCAA College Basketball Tournament Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 04, 2016 in Houston, Texas. The Wildcats won 77-74. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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21. Ty Rogers: No. 5 Drake vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky – 2008 Round of 64

This is our first upset on the list, and it’s one that sounds strange. Yes, Drake University was once given a five seed in the NCAA Tournament, and this game was their first NCAA Tournament game in over 20 years. It was just one of those improbable runs that ended with disappointment.

Western Kentucky was one of those typical 12-seeds beating the five seeds. They took the game into overtime, after blowing an eight-point lead with just over two minutes left in regulation. These two played an interesting game, with a then-record 70 3-point attempts. It only made sense this would end on a 3-pointer.

Drake tied the game at 88 near the end of regulation to send it to the extra session. There, the two teams scored a combined 24 points in five minutes. This was a scoring fest to kick off a really fun NCAA Tournament year.

Still, it was the shot that got them to this list. Overtime, down one, with only a prayer to keep their season alive, Western Kentucky’s Ty Rogers sat 26 feet away from the basket, as the planned shooter Tyrone Brazelton ran the ball up the court. Three players converged on him, and his only pass was two feet behind him to Rogers. With ice in his veins, he threw up a shot that would make Steph Curry proud, and on to the next round for the Hilltoppers.

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