March Madness: Top game-winning buzzer-beaters in Round of 64 history

1. 1983 – #11 Ohio’s Robert Tatum over #6 Illinois State

A shot that has ultimately – and regrettably – been lost to history over time, few game-winning buzzer-beaters have featured the frantic theatrics, particularly with a limited amount of time, quite like Ohio’s low-scoring upset of Illinois State in 1983.

The Bobcats’ run to the NCAA Tournament that year seemed nearly improbable entering the season – the squad had enjoyed just one winning season in the six previous seasons, courtesy of a 16-11 showing in 1978-79.  But a rapid turnaround from third-year head coach Danny Nee, before he became a Nebraska legend – and an offense spearheaded by a pair of double-digit forces in John Devereaux (14.2 points) and Vic Alexander (11.1 points) helped lead the Bobcats to early wins over St. Mary’s, Providence, and Rhode Island, as well as a narrow 10-point loss to nationally-ranked St. John’s – and, eventually, a MAC championship.

Illinois State, meanwhile, knew nothing but success, having ripped off 12-straight seasons with a winning record leading up to 1982-83 – but none of those years produced an NCAA Tournament berth until fifth-year head coach Bob Donewald led the Redbirds to their first of three tourney appearances in 1983.  The Redbirds were one of the more terrifying mid-majors in the country, having narrowly lost to Illinois, rolled over DePaul, and once enjoyed an 11-game winning streak – all largely made possible by the play of Rick Lamb, who led Illinois State in both points (14.1) and rebounds (8.5).

Despite a few hiccups after their 11-game winning streak was snapped, the Redbirds entered the NCAA Tournament fresh off of decimating three teams in three days in the MVC Tournament, scooping up victories by an average of 16 points.  Neither team – particularly by today’s standards – were stellar offensively, averaging around 65 points per game – but both squads were terrors on the defensive end, with the Bobcats holding teams to an even 60 points per game, whereas Illinois State was slightly better at 59.1 points.

Two accomplished mid-majors facing each other meant that college basketball would receive a riveting duel between a pair of competitive squads – and that is exactly what occurred in the Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.  The lead never got out of hand for either squad, as both teams were knotted at a 23-all deadlock at halftime.  Despite the low-scoring affair, both teams featured several double-digit scorers – Alexander led Ohio with 14 points and seven boards, while Lamb played all 40 minutes en route to logging 19 points and 10 caroms.

But obviously, no sequence was more critical than the ending.  With the game tied at 47-all and four years before the NCAA would adopt a shot-clock, Illinois State maintained possession with under 20 seconds to play, intending to play keep-away and hold for the final shot – but a Robert Tatum strip and breakaway layup gave Ohio a brief 49-47 lead.

After the Redbirds tied the game up yet again, this time with just over two seconds remaining, the Bobcats had one final shot to claim victory – and what followed was a moment that would feel eerily similar to Bryce Drew’s well-renowned buzzer-beater for Valparaiso 15 years later.

In many ways, this sequence feels like Drew’s shot – but somehow even more improbable and difficult.  Jeff Thomas, who led the Bobcats in assists per game, threw a pinpoint pass to John Devereaux, who – mixed in with two Ohio defenders – tipped the ball to the freshman Tatum, who averaged just under five points a game for the season.

Despite the pressure – and despite a soaring defender who made contact with Tatum’s back with his foot – the freshman calmly released a falling, double-clutch attempt that would propel Ohio to its first NCAA Tournament victory in 1964 – coincidentally, the year Tatum was born.

It may be easy to argue that either Drew’s shot – one of the most recognized in the history of the game – or Jesperson’s halfcourt heave – one of the most absurd game-winners in NCAA Tournament history – are deserving of the top spot, but the theatrics of Tatum’s shot – the pass, the fumble and tip to get it to Tatum, and the freshman’s ability to get a shot off with a defender tripping over him – all the while falling and being forced to double-clutch – are as chill-inducing as any bucket in the history of March.

Although Tatum tragically passed in 2015, there is no denying that his game-winning buzzer-beater ranks among the best – and it is both criminal and bizarre that it, oddly, has not been as remembered, documented, or appreciated as others on this list.  Likewise, while the shot was, understandably, overshadowed by Lorenzo Charles’ buzzer-beater for NC State in the title game, which would occur just weeks later – this is a circus shot that deserves to be hailed among college basketball’s all-time greats.