KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was Buddy’s Basket, Part II.
Well sort of. This time Oklahoma’s shot at the buzzer counted, unlike Buddy Hield’s halfcourt heave that came too late the 2016 Big 12 tournament. Only this time replays showed that Christian James’ foot was on the 3-point line at the buzzer.
What was thought to be a game-tying 3, instead became a two, and the Mountaineers escaped with a 72-71 upset of the Sooners in the Big 12 tournament.
“Yeah, I was waiting for James to go jump in the crowd like Buddy Hield did,” said West Virginia’s Logan Routt, who played a gutsy game with eight points and five rebounds off the bench.