The Shot (Valparaiso University)

For supporters of Valparaiso University in Indiana, USA, "The Shot" refers to a play that happened in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament. In the Midwest Region, 13-seed Valparaiso was facing 4-seed Ole Miss in the first round. Valparaiso was down 69-67 with 4.1 seconds remaining in the game, and Mississippi's Ansu Sesay at the free throw line. After Sesay missed both shots, the Crusaders came up with possession — 94 feet from their basket, and with only 2.5 seconds remaining in the game. On the inbound, the Crusaders used a play known as "Pacer". Jamie Sykes inbounded a long throw to Bill Jenkins, who immediately passed the ball to a practically unguarded Bryce Drew. Then, as time expired, Drew sank a 23-foot 3-point shot, giving him his 22nd point of the night, and clinching the Crusaders' 70-69 upset and advancing them in the tournament. "The Shot" was named the fifth most memorable moment in NCAA tournament history by sports analyst Gary Parrish in a front page article for CBS SportsLine^[1].

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