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College basketball player accidentally hits game-winning shot while attempting to pass
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Northern Illinois men’s basketball fans haven’t had much to cheer about this season, so they’ll celebrate any victory they can get — even if it happens by accident.
The Huskies, who entered Friday with a 5-25 mark and a 1-15 MAC record, were on the road to face Central Michigan (14-16, 7-10 MAC) in the regular-season finale for both teams. NIU, long eliminated from the MAC Tournament field, led 30-25 at the break and were up by as much as 7 with 8-and-a-half minutes to go in regulation before the Chippewas eventually forced overtime.
In the second OT, the Huskies led 81-77 with 90 seconds left, but Anthony Pritchard’s bucket with 17 seconds to go knotted it at 81. With time winding down and the Huskies with possession, James Dent Jr. appeared to attempt to pass it to a teammate underneath the basket.
Instead went through the net.
Take a look:
NIU, losers of its last 11, could hardly complain at that point. What’s more, it cost Central Michigan a spot in the MAC Tournament: the Chippewas needed a win to finish inside the conference’s top 8, but instead will be on the outside looking in thanks in part to a stroke of good fortune for the Huskies.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
