March Madness: The five best shots of the Big Dance
By Connor Hope
4. Jordan Mathews (Gonzaga vs. West Virginia)
In probably the most physical game of the NCAA Tournament, one shot kept the 1-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs on their path to the Final Four.
The game between Gonzaga and West Virginia, two of the most physical defenses in the nation, was tough to watch. With 51 fouls called, 61 free throw attempted, and 29 turnovers, neither team was able to get their offense going.
As West Virginia’s defense began to wear on Gonzaga, one shot slowed the Mountaineers’ momentum and gave the Zags confidence.
It is no surprise that this shot was set up by a very chaotic sequence on the other end. With 1:08 left, the Mountaineers had a free throw attempt to put them up by two points. Daxter Miles Jr. missed the attempt, which was rebounded by Gonzaga guard Nigel Williams-Goss. The ball was then poked away by Jevon Carter and corralled by West Virginia forward Nathan Adrian under the basket. Adrian’s layup attempt, however, was blocked by guard Josh Perkins and again rebounded by Williams-Goss.
As Williams-Goss escaped the trap and ran down the court, he hit Jordan Mathews in the corner for the go-ahead three with 57 seconds left. Mathews shot the ball without hesitating, making what was inevitably the game-winning basket.
While West Virginia still had nearly a minute remaining, they were never able to put together a successful offensive set. The Zags held on to secure their third win on the path to their first Final Four.