NCAA Buzzer Beaters: Copeland vs. Miami or Hunter vs. Baylor – Who did it better?

What surpasses the excitement of one NCAA buzzer beater? Undoubtedly, the thrill of two.

College basketball rarely delivers two captivating finishes within a 20-minute timeframe during the regular season. Saturday witnessed the Texas Longhorns’ triumph over Baylor and Syracuse’s victory against Miami, creating a day filled with intense action.

Texas secured their win with a decisive drive by senior guard Tyrese Hunter, while Syracuse clinched their victory with a crucial basket from sophomore guard Quadir Copeland. Comparing the two is challenging as there are various criteria for ranking game-winning shots.

With that said, here’s all the context you need to appreciate these exhilarating conclusions.

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Tyrese Hunter played a pivotal role in Texas’ triumph over No. 9 Baylor, delivering a crucial 75-73 victory for the Longhorns following a challenging 1-3 start in Big 12 play. The closely contested game, featuring 10 ties and 21 lead changes, showcased Texas’ offensive prowess in the first half, where they impressively went 9-of-11 from 3-point range, yet only held a narrow 42-41 lead at halftime.

The second half spotlighted the Longhorns’ defensive prowess, holding Baylor to an almost eight-minute scoring drought to conclude the game. With just 5.1 seconds left on the clock, Baylor managed to tie the score with a 3-pointer from forward Jalen Bridges. However, the stage was set for Tyrese Hunter’s heroics.

In a decisive moment, Hunter drove the ball from the opposite end of the court, executing a layup that secured the victory, prompting an eruption of cheers from the crowd. The win improved Texas’ overall record to 13-5, highlighting the team’s resilience and Hunter’s clutch performance.

Tyrese Hunter took charge for Texas, not only securing the win in the standings but also dominating the box score with 21 points and three assists. Following closely was Dylan Disu, contributing 19 points to the team’s success.

Unfortunately for the Baylor Bears, the loss dropped their record to 14-4. The team was led by freshman Ja’kobe Walter, who showcased an impressive performance with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds.

In a separate game, Syracuse’s Quadir Copeland sealed a dramatic victory over Miami with a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. This crucial shot came at a time when Syracuse’s undefeated home streak was at risk, keeping the fan section on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, the Orange secured a 72-69 win over Miami, and Copeland’s last-second heroics added to the excitement of the game.

The triumph elevated Syracuse’s overall record to 13-5, with a conference record of 4-3 in the ACC. The first half of the game saw a closely contested battle, with both teams evenly matched. However, Miami took control with a 9-0 run. Syracuse swiftly responded with a 9-2 run, entering halftime trailing by just one point.

In the second half, sophomore guard JJ Starling played a crucial role in revitalizing Syracuse’s offense, contributing key buckets to keep the team competitive. The game remained intense and back-and-forth, resulting in a 69-69 tie with less than a minute remaining. After securing a defensive stop, Syracuse called a timeout to strategize the winning play.

Executing the plan, sophomore guard Judah Mintz drove to his right and passed the ball across the court to Quadir Copeland for the game-winning 3-pointer. Copeland’s shot found the mark, even as he fell to the ground upon landing. The crowd erupted in excitement, celebrating the thrilling victory.

Judah Mintz concluded the game with an impressive performance, notching 10 points, a career-high 13 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals. Quadir Copeland contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals. This dynamic duo was part of a Syracuse squad where five players achieved double figures, with JJ Starling leading the way with 22 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers.

Despite Miami’s loss, they faced offensive constraints, falling short of their season average of 83 points per game. Nijel Pack led Miami with 19 points.