March Madness starts early with Lehigh’s miraculous half-court buzzer-beater

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Both the calendar andbasketball courtsay it is March.

Lehigh Universityadvanced to the Patriot League tournament semifinals on Thursday night after a half-court prayer went nothing but net at the buzzer.

Nasir Whitlock of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks shoots a three-point field goal attempt during an NCAA men’s basketball game at Oceanfirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, New Jersey on Dec.21, 2025.(Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Nasir Whitlock caught the inbound pass with 2.1 seconds left, dribbled up two steps and heaved his shot toward the basket.

Lehigh Mountain Hawks guard Nasir Whitlock (1) in action during a basketball game against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic basketball tournament on Friday, Nov.28, 2025, at the Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But the Mountain Hawks battled back thanks to Whitlock knocking down a pair of free throws and then making a layup to trail by two.Hank Alvey’s layup tied the game with 1:12 to go, but Holy Cross’ Gabe Warren made a jumper with 21 seconds left to put the Crusaders back up.

Whitlock, though, tied the game again with 11 seconds left, and after a bad Holy Cross pass changed possession, Whitlock became the hero.

Whitlock went 11-for-24, including each of his last four, to finish with 29 points.Nine of those points came in the final 2:30 of the game, and he knocked down four of his six three-pointers, including each of his final two in crunch time.

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Nasir Whitlock of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks drives the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game at Oceanfirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, New Jersey, on Dec.21, 2025.(Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Tyler Boston led the Crusaders (11-for-22) in scoring, finishing with 24 points.Holy Cross also got 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Warren.Aiden Disu finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

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The Mountain Hawks will move on to play No.3-seeded Colgate on Friday.They have not made the tournament since 2012, when, as a 15-seed led by CJ McCollum, they upsetNo.2 Duke.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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