Houston’s Last-Second Heroics: A Sweet 16 Thriller
INDIANAPOLIS — In the high-stakes world of March Madness, every second counts, and sometimes, it’s those final moments that etch themselves into the annals of basketball history. With just 2.8 seconds left on the clock and the score tied in a Sweet 16 showdown, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson orchestrated a brilliant baseline inbounds play that will undoubtedly be replayed on highlight reels for years to come.
The play was a masterclass in quick thinking and execution. Cougars wing Milos Uzan inbounded the ball to forward Joseph Tugler, positioned about eight feet from the basket. In a split-second decision, Tugler noticed that Purdue guard Braden Smith had vacated his spot guarding the inbounder. Tugler quickly passed the ball back to the now unguarded Uzan, who made an unchallenged leap to the basket, securing the layup and the win.
The shot clinched a 62-60 victory for No. 1 Houston over the No. 4 Boilermakers, marking one of the most memorable moments of this NCAA tournament. “That was beautiful,” Uzan reflected on the play’s execution. “Especially in a moment like this, Sweet 16 to go to the Elite Eight.”
Uzan’s game-winning shot capped off a stellar 22-point performance, giving Sampson one of the signature wins of his career and propelling the top-seeded Cougars to a face-off with No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday. For a Houston program that has reached six consecutive Sweet 16s, this moment stands out as a defining highlight in their impressive run.
As Houston assistant coach Kellen Sampson put it, “Given the stakes, given what was at play here, given the fact that we’ve been in this moment two consecutive years and couldn’t quite get over the hump.”
However, the path to victory wasn’t without its challenges. Houston had squandered a 10-point lead in the final eight minutes, allowing Purdue to tie the score with a Camden Heide 3-pointer with just 35 seconds left. This was set up by a sweet dish from Smith, who finished the game with an impressive 15 assists, capitalizing on Tugler’s defensive lapse.
The stage was set for Houston’s final possession, which saw a missed shot by Uzan and a missed tip by Tugler before the ball was deflected out of bounds off Purdue. An official review confirmed the ball belonged to Houston, giving the Cougars the opportunity to set up their winning play.
In the locker room afterward, Cougars players and coaches were tight-lipped about the play’s name, though they admitted it’s a play they run frequently. Kellen Sampson revealed that the Houston staff initially considered an inbounds play involving a lob to the rim. However, his father, affectionately referred to as “Chief,” overruled them, opting to use dynamic guard L.J. Cryer as a decoy, despite Cryer’s struggles with a 2-for-13 shooting night.
The play’s success hinged on Tugler’s ability to set a solid screen on Purdue’s C.J. Cox, who was guarding Cryer. Sampson instructed Tugler, “Make sure you hit him,” knowing that officials rarely call an off-ball foul in such situations.
Tugler, standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 230 pounds, executed the screen with enough force to cause Smith, who was guarding the inbounder, to dart to the opposite corner to cover Cryer, ensuring he didn’t get an open shot.
With the screen set, Tugler darted in the opposite direction, receiving the inbounds pass from Uzan at the lane’s midpoint. Trusting his instincts, Tugler immediately returned the ball to Uzan, who was left unguarded.
“It was an instinct play,” Tugler explained. “I can pass the ball. I trusted myself, and I trusted [Uzan].”
Tugler’s background playing on outdoor courts with chain-link nets in Monroe, Louisiana, played a role in his instinctive decision-making. Kellen Sampson praised Tugler’s streetball roots, saying, “Nobody on our team has played on outdoor courts more than Jo. And so the fact that was an instinctive play, that’s him. We got a lot of guys that have personal trainers. Joe’s personal trainer was a blacktop court and a double rim.”
Uzan completed the play with an easy, two-handed finish, as Cox was late to challenge the shot after Smith switched to his man. Kelvin Sampson emphasized the importance of Uzan’s positioning, saying, “Don’t be a neutral observer and stand out of bounds and wonder what Jo’s going to do. Make sure you get both feet inbounds so when you catch it.”
Smith later explained his decision to vacate Uzan, citing his familiarity with the play from film study and his desire to prevent Cryer from hitting a corner shot. “I could have stayed,” Smith admitted. “There’s a lot of different things that could have went into it. I just didn’t want Cryer coming off to hit that shot.”
Ultimately, Uzan capped a night where he hit a career-high six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 22 points with his most crucial basket. On a night when Houston’s offense struggled at times, shooting just 38% from the field, everything fell into place for the final field goal to secure the win.
“We didn’t have our best,” Kellen Sampson acknowledged. “To win six [NCAA tournament games], you’re going to have to win one where the gun doesn’t fire right.”
Originally Written by: Pete Thamel
