Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, January 29
Ogden, UT
7:00 p.m.
Weber State University
72
vs
71
*Northern Colorado
Scott Bamforth's Improbable Three at the Buzzer Sends the Wildcats to a 72-71 Win Over League-Leader Northern Colorado
1/30/2011 6:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bamforth's 40-footer lifts Wildcats to buzzer-beating win
Jan. 29, 2011
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OGDEN, UTAH -- BAM! and it was over. Weber State's Scott Bamforth let fly a 40-foot shot with less than a second on the clock, lifting the Wildcats to a 72-71 win over Big Sky Conference leader Northern Colorado, Saturday night before a raucous crowd of 7,505 at the Dee Event Center, and before a regional television audience on Altitude TV.
Bamforth's dagger dealt the Bears their first loss in Big Sky play this season and keep them winless at the Dee Events Center where they are now 0-5.
“An unbelievable ending,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “Beitzel is a 92 percent free throw shooter so we knew
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he would make them both. We were out of time outs so we just reacted and Scotty made an great play. Northern Colorado is a really good, sound basketball team and we knew they weren't going to break, but I was really proud of how everyone stepped up tonight, that was a great team effort.” Northern Colorado appeared to have the game won with five second left when guard Devon Beitzel was fouled by Lindsey Hughey driving to the basket. Beitzel, a 92 percent free throw shooter, made both free throws, giving the Bears a 71-69 lead. WSU got a clock reprieve when it was determined that there were 2.4 seconds left when Beitzel was fouled. |
he would make them both. We were out of time outs so we just reacted and Scotty made an great play. Northern Colorado is a really good, sound basketball team and we knew they weren't going to break, but I was really proud of how everyone stepped up tonight, that was a great team effort.”
Northern Colorado appeared to have the game won with five second left when guard Devon Beitzel was fouled by Lindsey Hughey driving to the basket. Beitzel, a 92 percent free throw shooter, made both free throws, giving the Bears a 71-69 lead. WSU got a clock reprieve when it was determined that there were 2.4 seconds left when Beitzel was fouled.
After Beitzel made the second free throw, Darin Mahoney inbounded the ball to Bamforth who race up court and let the ball fly. Officials checked the Altitude TV replay to make sure the ball had left his hand in time and it did with just six-tenths of a second on the clock.
Weber State, which lost at Northern Colorado, 65-46, just seven days ago in Greeley, came out smoking, taking a 19-10 lead in the first eight minutes of the game with Trevor Morris scoring six of 10 points in that run.
The Bears, however, showed why they were atop the league, battling back and putting together a d 23-11 scoring run to take a 33-30 lead on a three-pointer from Devon Beitzel with 3:26 left in the half. Beitzel's three pointer at the 1:01 mark, gave the Bears a 36-32 lead, but it was answered by Lindsey Hughey with 40 seconds left and UNC took a one-point lead into the locker room with Beitzel scoring 15 of his game-high 29 points in the first 20 minutes.
The Bears came out and led by as many as seven (44-37) early in the half on back-to-back threes by Elliott Lloyd. The 'Cats used a lay up by Bamforth, and a three from Hughey, to bring the game back to within two (46-44), then stayed closed until taking the lead back with 9:03 left on a three-pointer from freshman guard Jordan Richardson, one of five he made during evening on his way to a career high 17 points.
Beitzel hit a three with 6:35 left which began a string of arc-ringing shots by both teams. That gave UNC a 62-61 lead, but it evaporated 20 seconds later when Richardson drained a three putting WSU up two. Beitzel answered giving the Bears a 65-64 lead, and made the free throw after he was fouled to make it 66-64.
On the following possession, Bamforth turned the ball over on some pressure defense by the Bears, and Beitzel nailed another trey giving UNC a 69-65 lead with 5:21 left. That would be UNC's last points until Beitzel made the two free throws with five seconds left.
The Wildcats had a chance to take a two point lead but Trevor Morris and Darin Mahoney each missed free throw chances. Mahoney's free throw at the 2:58 mark would be WSU's last points until Bamforth's bucket at the buzzer.
The Bears missed a golden chance to take a two point lead with 33 seconds left when it appeared Taylor Montgomery would slam one home, but Trevor Morris came over for the block and got the rebound. The Wildcats then called time to set up a play with the game tied at 69 and just 33 second left in the game.
WSU worked the ball around and it ended up in Lindsey Hughey's hand with nine seconds left but his straight away attempt missed and was rebounded by Elliott Lloyd who threw a long court pass to a streaking Devon Beitzel. He raced to the basket and met Hughey who came to take the charge but was called for the foul.
Beitzel, who scored just five points on 1-6 shooting the first game last week in Greeley, hit 9-17 from the field including 6-10 from the arc, scoring 29 points. Elliott Lloyd and Emmanuel Addo each added 10. UNC out rebounded the Wildcats 34-29. The Bears fall to 7-1 in Big Sky play and 11-8 overall.
Jordan Richardson's first double figure scoring game as a Wildcats was much needed. He led the 'Cats with 17 points hitting 5-8 from the field and 5-6 from the arc. Bamforth's trey at the buzzer left him with 12 points and Morris added 10. It was relatively error free game as UNC had just nine turnovers and WSU, eight. The Wildcats now move to 4-4 in Big Sky Conference player and 10-9 overall.
The Wildcats host Montana (Feb. 3) and Montana State (Feb. 5) next week at the Dee Events Center. Thursday's game is a 7:05 tip while Saturday's contest is a 4:05 tip on Altitude TV.
Players Mentioned
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