In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the college basketball landscape, the unranked Arizona Wildcats toppled the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones 86-75 in an overtime classic at the McKale Center. The catalyst for the Wildcats’ improbable victory? A miraculous half-court heave by Caleb Love that beat the regulation buzzer and forced the extra period.
Love’s Miracle Shot Caps Regulation Dramatics
With just 2.2 seconds remaining and Iowa State clinging to a 71-68 lead, the Cyclones’ Joshua Jefferson hit one of two free throws to seemingly seal the game. But those precious ticks left on the clock proved just enough for Love to conjure up some magic.
The junior guard took a couple dribbles and launched a prayer from several steps beyond the midcourt line. Miraculously, the ball caught nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, igniting a deafening roar from the McKale Center crowd and leaving the Cyclones stunned. Love, who to that point was a frigid 1-of-10 from beyond the arc, called the moment “the best of my life.”
I just let it fly and prayed it would go in. When I saw it bank through the net, I couldn’t believe it. That’s a moment I’ll remember forever.
Caleb Love on his half-court buzzer-beater
Wildcats Catch Fire in Overtime
Buoyed by the emotional lift of Love’s miracle heave, Arizona dominated the extra session. Love drilled two more triples from the corner, while freshman phenom Carter Bryant added another trey of his own as the Wildcats outscored ISU 15-4 in OT to complete the upset.
The win marked Arizona’s first over a top-5 opponent as an unranked squad since toppling then-No. 3 UCLA way back in 1979. Love finished with a team-high 22 points, while big man Tobe Awaka posted a dominant 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to pace the Wildcats.
Rare Stumble for Mighty Cyclones
The loss was a rare blemish for an Iowa State team that has made a habit of pulling out narrow victories. It marked just the fifth loss to an unranked foe during the Cyclones’ stint in the top-5 this season, and their second such defeat in the past two weeks following an 18-point drubbing at West Virginia.
Tamin Lipsey led ISU with 18 points and backcourt mate Keshon Gilbert chipped in 17, but the Cyclones were ice cold when it mattered most. They managed just one field goal and turned it over three times in the fateful overtime period as the Wildcats pulled away.
Signature Win for Surging Wildcats
While the manner was unforgettable, the result was huge for an Arizona team that seems to be finding its stride at the perfect time. Winners of eight of their last nine, the Wildcats are surging up the Pac-12 standings and putting themselves firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
- 14-6 overall record, 8-1 in Pac-12 play
- Four Quad 1 wins, including Iowa State upset
- Projected as high as a 6-seed by bracketologists
In a season that has seen the Pac-12 beat up on each other, Arizona is emerging as a potential contender to win the league. With Love and Bryant forming a dynamic backcourt and Awaka anchoring the paint, the Wildcats are a team no one will want to face come March.
This group just continues to get better. I’m so proud of their resiliency and toughness to pull out a win like this. It’s a game that can really springboard our season.
Arizona head coach Sean Miller
The Wildcats will look to build off this season-defining triumph as they return to Pac-12 play later this week. As for Iowa State, they’ll hope to regroup quickly with a trip to hostile Hilton Coliseum and No. 10 Kansas State on deck this weekend in a battle of Big 12 heavyweights.
But on this night in the desert, all anyone will remember is Love’s 40-foot miracle that set the stage for Arizona’s upset for the ages. It’s the kind of moment that makes college basketball special – and has the potential to alter the trajectory of a season.
