Game 5: Almost Shocked: Woodfox’s buzzer-beater saves Creighton
March 7, 2009
ST. LOUIS – Booker Woodfox is Superman.
So says Wichita State forward Ramon Clemente.
After watching a 21-point lead evaporate in the matter of minutes, Woodfox, the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, fired in a game-winning, buzzer beating two-point basket to give Creighton a 63-62 win against Wichita State.
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Woodfox scored 17 points, all in the second half, but none bigger than the two that came only seconds after the Shockers completely erased a 21-point deficit, taking a 62-61 lead when guard Toure’ Murray drained a 3-point field goal with nine seconds remaining.
Creighton head coach Dana Altman said he felt several different emotions after the game’s final buzzer sounded.
‘I’m happy and disappointed all at the same time. Happy we won the game, really disappointed in the way we handled the last ten minutes,’ Altman said. ‘I’m not sure if we just quit or relaxed. Fortunately, Book hit a big shot and saved us.’
Wichita State (16-16) looked to have the game won when the Bluejays raced down the court and fumbled the ball out of bounds as time seemed to have expired. But after huddling around a replay monitor, the officials awarded Creighton the ball and 1.9 seconds.
It was a 1.9 seconds Woodfox took full advantage of as his shot from the right wing lifted the conference co-champs and No. 2 seed to victory.
Clemente, who scored eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Shockers, said he was in disbelief as he watched Woodfox steal a victory with a last-second jump shot.
‘He did it again, Superman. I think the clock expired and they made a mistake. I thought that was it,’ Clemente said. ‘I couldn’t believe we pulled that off after being down 21, but my teammates kept fighting.’
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Woodfox, who scored 53 points against the Shockers in three games this season, said he knew his shot was true when it left his hand.
‘I knew it was in. I held my follow through,’ Woodfox said. ‘That’s what Coach (Brian) Fish always stresses to me when I take shots.I had to listen to what Coach Fish was telling me and I did it, and finally some shots went down.’
Luis C. Medina is on location in St. Louis and can be reached at [email protected].
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