Vanderbilt Won at the Buzzer and it wasn't the Craziest Thing That Happened in CBB Wednseday Night

Memorial Magic is back. The Jefferson-Pilot Sports vibes were high in Nashville on Wednesday night as South Carolina sought out its first SEC win in a low-scoring slobber-knocker against Vanderbilt.

The Gamecocks had not led since the 9:40 mark of the first half when Collin Murray-Boyles sunk two free throws to tie it with 41 seconds on the clock. First-year Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington called AJ Hoggard’s number to deliver the game-winner. He missed the shot, but Devin McGlockton was prepared to clean it up. He finished the “and one” with only .6 on the clock to secure a 66-63 victory for Vanderbilt.

For the first time in '25 – Memorial is Magic ⚓️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KShOV1TBFv

— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) January 16, 2025

Jeff Capel Pulled a Coach K

Jeff Capel is just good enough to keep a job but never good enough to actually excel at it. Pitt had an opportunity to be one of the better teams in a bad ACC. Then they got blown out by Duke and lost at home to Louisville. Their wheels were spinning ahead of a road trip to Tallahassee and that’s where they completely lost control.

A bad Florida State team handed Pitt a double-digit defeat. The margin turned to 12 with a late dunk and Capel took great offense to that. The Pitt head coach took a lesson from his mentor, Mike Kryzwexszxsxski, and decided to lecture Malique Ewin for having bad sportsmanship by throwing F-bombs at him. It’s something any normal, well-adjusted adult would do in this situation.

Pitt and Florida State nearly come to blows in the handshake line after Jeff Capel confronts Malique Ewin for a meaningless, last second bucket. pic.twitter.com/yUCDtfa70d

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 16, 2025

You Should Never Foul a Half-Court Shooter

Capel was a sore loser. Frank Martin was almost a dumb loser. UMass led by three points in the final seconds of overtime when they fouled a player who was attempting a half-court shot. WHY?!?!?!

Fortunately, it did not cost them the game. Daniel Rivera hit a game-winning layup with 10 seconds on the clock to take down Fordham 120-118 in double overtime. Shout out to Rahsool Diggins, who set a school record by scoring 46 points for the Minutemen.

Around the SEC: Tennessee Takes Down Georgia, Texas gets First SEC Win

The Vols played five straight bad halves of offensive basketball. Georgia led 26-25 at halftime. Things were getting tight in the Food City Center until they took the lid off the bucket to start the second half. In a game where he set the school’s all-time steals record, Zakai Ziegler hit three three-pointers during a 24-4 run that put the game out of reach. The sixth-ranked Vols beat No. 23 Georgia 74-56.

The basketball version of the Red River Shootout was an opportunity for Texas and Oklahoma to win their first-ever SEC game. The Longhorns led by 23 points at the 16-minute mark of the second half, yet nearly lost the game. With a little help from the home crowd, Jalon Moore put the team on his back and scored 26 second half points. The Sooners cut the deficit to three with three minutes to play, but a pair of Tre Johnson jumpers dashed the hopes of a comeback. Texas won the rivalry game 77-73.