Social media lost their minds after seeing Drake survive a missed buzzer-beater by Wichita State to advance to the Round of 64.
It did not take long for the NCAA Tournament to see its first nail-biter. That came courtesy of the First Four Round matchup between the Drake Bulldogs and Wichita State Shockers to earn the 11th-seed in the West Region.
Drake had the chance to extend their 53-52 lead at the free throw line, but guard Joseph Yesufu missed his lone attempt. Wichita State forward Morris Udeze grabbed the defensive rebound and passed it to guard Alterique Gilbert, who unleashed a deep three-point attempt at the buzzer for the win but it bounced off the rim. With the victory, Drake earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 1971, and will now face No. 6 USC in the Round of 64.
Of course, college basketball Twitter lost its mind with the almost buzzer-beating win.
Watching the end of Drake-Wichita State. 😱 pic.twitter.com/fH1uaYhI0b
— theScore (@theScore) March 19, 2021
CHAOS 😱
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 19, 2021
Drake holds on. What a game. The Madness is officially here
— Juwan is the 🐐 (@Juwanbaby) March 19, 2021
Drake. pic.twitter.com/O0IoI5N8gW
— Jessica Benson (@jessbensontv) March 19, 2021
How Drake looking at Wichita State pic.twitter.com/tLpbKXTt8K
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 19, 2021
We go live to Ted Lasso as he watches his alma mater Wichita State fall in the NCAA Tournament to Drake. pic.twitter.com/EHO2FG9yol
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 19, 2021
Drake after beating Wichita State#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/cG4nMjItmh
— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) March 19, 2021
DRAKE-WICHITA STATE GOING FULL MARCH MADNESS OUT THE GATE!!!
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) March 19, 2021
Drake advances to Round of 64 after a failed buzzer beater by Wichita State
While the talk will mostly be about the missed three-point, you can not overlook that Drake came back from a 37-25 deficit early in the second half to secure the win.
The Bulldogs finally took the lead with over four minutes remaining in regulation on a layup by forward Darnell Brodie. Drake was ahead 53-49 late in the second half, but that it diminished after a clutch three-point shot by Wichita State guard Dexter Dennis following back-to-back steals between both teams.
Yesufu led the way for Drake, as he recorded 21 points (8-for-21 from field, 2-for-3 on free throws), three assists and two rebounds. Udeze’s 22 points (8-for-13 from field, 6-for-11 on free throws) were a team-high for Wichita State.
The Bulldogs are dancing into the Round of 64, while the Shockers were sent home early.
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