One of the best aspects of men's college basketball is that a random day in the thick of the season can provide unforgettable moments that bleed all the way into the NCAA tournament.
Wednesday night was just that, producing a top-5 upset, historic performances and potentially the regular season game of the year.
Check out what went down:
Creighton stuns No. 5 UConn in Storrs
Wednesday night was arguably supposed to be a walk in the park for No. 5 UConn men’s basketball.
They welcomed in Creighton, a team they pummeled by 27 points less than 20 days prior, to Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, a place they’d lost just three times in the past two seasons.
None of that mattered to the Bluejays, though, beating the Huskies 91-84 after catching fire late in the second half to pull away. They handed UConn its third loss of the season, first at home since Nov. 19.
There wasn’t an inch of separation between the Big East foes for the first 30 minutes of the duel, tied 63-63, trading baskets like each’s life depended on it. Neither team held a lead by more than seven points.
The final 10 minutes were a different story.
Creighton went on a 14-5 run for the next six and a half minutes. They leaned on guards Josh Dix, who led the team in scoring with 21 points, and Blake Harper, who caught fire out of nowhere.
After Harper’s turnaround jumper to cap off the run, the Bluejays were in the driver's seat, leading 77-68. All 12 of the sophomore’s points in the game came in the last six minutes.
BLAKE. HARPER. // 📺 TNT
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB)
The Huskies had no answer, unable to keep up with Creighton’s hot hands. The team shot 58.3% from deep in the second half.
UConn now falls to 4-10 under coach Dan Hurley versus the Bluejays — the only program in the Big East with a losing record.
No. 25 Alabama rallies to beat No. 20 Arkansas and Acuff Jr. in double overtime thriller
Welcome to Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL, the home of arguably the men’s college basketball game of the year.
No. 20 Arkansas and No. 25 Alabama’s high-octane, SEC matchup on Wednesday night birthed an unforgettable thriller that handed the Crimson Tide a 117-115 victory in double overtime.
BAMA SURVIVES A DOUBLE OT INSTANT CLASSIC 🤯 x
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC)
It spoiled the Razorbacks’ freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr.'s 49-point performance, the most points by an Arkansas freshman and the second-most EVER in an Arkansas men's basketball game.
Everything was clicking for the Razorbacks early in the second half, enjoying a lead as much as 13 points with less than 13 minutes remaining. Somehow, Alabama erased that deficit with ease, tying it at 77 apiece with 8:45 left.
It was anyone’s game from there, jousting till the final seconds of regulation, where Acuff tied it at 95, though, to force OT.
Things only got tougher for Arkansas and Acuff as the game continued, though, with second-leading scorer guard Meleek Thomas and starting forward Nick Pringle fouling out in the first overtime.
But that didn’t matter to the Razorbacks nor the Crimson Tide, neither showing signs of letting up, even in the second overtime. From 3:18 in the first OT to 1:23 in the second, the biggest lead was two points.
Alabama guard Houston Mallette changed that with 51 seconds, knocking down a corner three to give the Crimson Tide a four-point lead and put the nail in the coffin.
HUEY DID IT AGAIN!
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB)
Arkansas got a final look with less than 10 seconds left, but Acuff Jr.'s right-handed floater and forward Malique Ewin's putback dunk attempt were no good, sending Coleman Coliseum into a frenzy. Guard Philon Labaron led Alabama with 35 points.
Josh Hubbard breaks school record in made 3-pointers in just the first half
Shot-making has never been a problem for guard Josh Hubbard at Mississippi State.
The junior averaged 17.1 and 18.9 points per game in his freshman and sophomore years at Starkville, respectively, and 21.4 this season.
But he left Earth on Wednesday night, scoring 35 points in the first half against Auburn on nine 3-pointers, in the Bulldogs 91-85 victory. It was the most triples in a game in school history.
JOSH HUBBARD HIT NINE 3'S IN THE FIRST HALF 🔥
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork)
35 PTS IN THE FIRST HALF 👀
Yes, he only needed the first half to accomplish that.
Nothing could cool off Hubbard, going on 11-0 and 8-0 runs, featuring three consecutive threes at one point. He finished with a career-high of 46 points.
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