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The time Ray Allen hit a game-winning jumper that gave UConn the Big East championship

It was a big-time shot by a big-time player.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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March is filled with many unbelievable moments when it comes to NCAA basketball. Twenty-seven years ago, Ray Allen—then starring for the UConn Huskies before he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA Draft—delivered one of the most iconic as his tough jumper lifted his team past Allen Iverson and the Georgetown Hoyas, 75-74, for the 1996 Big East title.

“Allen vs. Allen”

It was a matchup highlighted by a showdown between two of the best guards in college basketball that season, leading many to dub the encounter “Allen vs. Allen.” The two superstars, though, struggled all game long, with Iverson finishing with just 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting, while Allen had 17, making just five of his 20 attempts from the field.

However, it was the 6-foot-5 Allen that had the final say in the intense matchup. Georgetown had the inside track on the victory as they led 74-63 with under five minutes left in the game. However, Ricky Moore and Kirk King gave UConn a spark and trimmed the deficit down to one, 73-74, after a putback slam by the latter.

Lucky roll

UConn regained possession after Georgetown’s Victor Page missed the front end of a “one-and-one.” King then handed the ball off to Allen, who drove to his right, jumped, and thought about passing to his teammate in the corner. However, Georgetown forward Jerome Williams was already anticipating the pass, leaving Allen with no choice but to throw up a prayer. 

That prayer was eventually answered as the ball hit the front of the rim, then the back before dropping in the basket to give UConn a 75-74 lead with 13.6 seconds to go.

"The play was designed for me to come off a pick," Allen said. "I drove, jumped, faked a pass. By then, I was on my way back down, so I had to put it up. I got a lucky roll. You see it happen all the time, but I never thought it would happen to me." 

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.