Best Buzzer-Beaters In BYU Basketball History

PROVO, Utah – With TJ Haws hitting a game-winner at the buzzer to give BYU basketball an upset victory over the Houston Cougars, it got me thinking of past buzzer-beaters in BYU’s history.

It’s not every day you see a buzz beater happen, so let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and look at the best buzzer-beaters over the years for BYU basketball.

2019: TJ Haws comes up clutch in “Clutch City”

Friday night’s buzzer-beater was an instant-classic for BYU. The Cougars entered the game against Houston with only a 20-percent chance of winning and were 11.5-point underdogs.

TJ Haws beats Houston at the buzzer! #BYU pic.twitter.com/SSFg8H8Yeb

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) November 16, 2019

With 5.1 seconds left on the clock, Connor Harding inbounded the ball to Haws who drove down the court and hit the game-winning shot, giving their best non-conference road win in years.

2013: Craig Cusick against Utah State

Hours before tip-off against Utah State in February 2013, BYU guard Craig Cusick found out his father Randy was diagnosed with cancer. In the game, the Cougars and Aggies were tied up at 68 with seconds remaining. BYU’s Matt Carlino got off a shot that missed, Cusick caught the ball mid-air and put up the shot to give BYU a 70-68 rivalry win.

2011: “Jimmer from 40 feet …”

The moment “Jimmermania” took off nationally was when Jimmer Fredette knocked down a 40-footer against rival Utah at the Huntsman Center before halftime. Greg Wrubell said, “Jimmer from 40 feet … he got it! He got it! Yeahyeahwoohoohooaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!” Jimmermania was then born.

I think my call of Jimmer's near-halfcourt shot was "yeahyeahwoohoohooaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yes, that looks about right.

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) January 12, 2011

2004: Araujo lays it in to shock the Rebs

BYU center Rafael Araujo took a pass from guard Luiz Lemes and put in a layup with 0.5 seconds left to give BYU a regular-season finale win at UNLV in front of a nationally televised ABC audience.

1999: The bank was open for Mekeli Wesley in Honolulu

BYU’s last game as a member of the WAC against Hawaii on the islands was a thriller. BYU center Mekeli Wesley banked in a 25-foot three-pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining completed the Cougars 17-point comeback against the Rainbow Warriors.

1992: WAC Tournament Title courtesy of Kevin Nixon

Former BYU forward Kevin Nixon was a sharpshooter who could make shots from anywhere on the court. In the WAC Tournament Championship Game against UTEP, Nixon buried a 54-footer at the horn to secure BYU’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

1981: Danny Ainge sends BYU to the Elite 8

The farthest BYU basketball has ever advanced in the NCAA Tournament was in 1981, courtesy of Naismith Award winner Danny Ainge. In the East Regional Semifinal against Notre Dame, Ainge took the ball the length of the court and laid the ball in over Orlando Woolridge to put BYU on top, 51-50.