Ole Miss loses in stunning fashion souring its hopes for at-large berth
Every now and then college basketball can provide a moment that you almost can't believe. Maybe your jaw drops. Maybe you scream and shout. Maybe you stand incredulously with your hand on your head as former Ole Miss star Marshall Henderson did Thursday when he saw the stunning final four seconds unfold in the Rebels' 60-58 loss to South Carolina.
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Ole Miss trailed by three with 11 seconds remaining. Jarvis Summers tied the game with a 3-point shot and he was fouled and converted the free throw for the rare four-point play, even more rare in crunch time.
Both teams took time. The coaches had plenty of time to coach. Players had plenty of time to think. The one thing Ole Miss didn't want to do was foul and make it easy on No. 11 seed South Carolina at the foul line. The obvious strategy is to make the Gamecocks bring the ball up the floor and make or miss a game-winning attempt hopefully from long distance with a hand in the face of the shooter. Just don't foul.
But LeDarius White, whom it should be noted played very well and led the Rebels in scoring with 17 points, ran with Tyrone Johnson as he brought the ball up the court and bumped him as he elevated to take a running 3-pointer. The official made the call, something he deserves credit for doing. Many officials would swallow the whistle there.
White broke the cardinal rule in fouling on a desperation shot. The foul seems even worse when considering Johnson hadn't made a shot all night. He was 0-for-4 before his final attempt and 0-for-1 from behind the arc. He finished the game 5-for-5 at the free throw line.
Johnson, a senior, calmly went to the foul line and knocked down three consecutive free throws to give the Gamecocks the win and quite possibly ruin the NCAA tournament hopes of the Rebels. South Carolina coach Frank Martin made sure to point out he believes the Rebels belong in the tournament after Ole Miss gifted him a win. But the Rebels have now lost four of five games, including several bad losses, the kind that can make the NCAA selection committee turn its collective nose up at you. It's going to be a long weekend for the Rebels.
Frank Martin: "Ole Miss better be in that (NCAA) tournament, and not only be in in it, but better be in it with a good seed." ... Or else?
— Seth Emerson (@SethEmerson)
March 13, 2015
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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo
