Tyus Battle did more than just win a road game for the Syracuse basketball team. He also joined an exclusive club that could be a sign of things to come.
Game winning shots at the buzzer help create some of the greatest moments in basketball history. Shots that help etch the names of players in history. The mystique of these shots helped make greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant who they are. Moments a fan base will never forget.
In a thrilling come from behind win for the Syracuse Orange at Clemson, Tyus Battle entered such a group. A group that consists of Gerry McNamara against Cincinnati in the 2006 Big East Tournament. Just last year, Kris Jenkins won the National Championship.
In SU basketball lore Battle joins an even more exclusive group by being the third freshman in team history to win a game with a buzzer beater.
Pearl Washington vs. Boston College 1/21/84
In a shot that helped create the legend of Pearl Washington became the first game winner by a freshman in Syracuse history. With four seconds remaining, Martin Clark missed a free throw for Boston College which lead to an outlet for the Pearl. Bob Snyder covered the game for the Herald-American that day.
"And they said “The Pearl” couldn’t shoot from the outside.More from Inside the Loud HouseSyracuse Football: Cuse boils Purdue, turns attention to Army on SaturdaySyracuse football only team in country with top-5 scoring offense, defenseSyracuse Basketball: 4-star Elijah Moore not in top 100, and I don’t get thatSyracuse basketball 4-star west-coast recruit, in new rankings, into top 20Syracuse basketball is hitting D.C. market hard in pursuit of 4-stars, 5-starsDwayne Washington carried it to an extreme Saturday night, in forever laying that rumor to rest. And in so doing, the phenomenal freshman guard’s 45-foot, two-hand running push shot that went S-W-I-S-H gave Syracuse a heart-stopping, 75-73 Big East victory over Boston College.The shot heard ’round the Big East ended a magnificent basketball game and sent 30,293 fans into pandemonium.“I didn’t realize how much time was left, just that there were four seconds when we got the ball, ” said Washington, who scored 20 points and was voted the game’s most valuable player. “I could see the ball, a little. It (the shot) looked straight to me."
Tyler Ennis vs. Pittsburgh 2/13/14
The second one in team history by a freshman was fairly recent. SU was 24-0 and ranked as the number one team in the nation. Lead by another tremendous freshman, Tyler Ennis. Ennis only had 4.4 seconds to calmly move three quarters of the way up the court, and launch a shot that would sink thousands of Panther fans to despair.
Martin Rickman of Sports Illustrated reiterated a sentiment of many fans around the country.
"It’s become a cliché to say Tyler Ennis can’t be a freshman. But he just can’t be. Freshmen don’t play like that. They don’t do what Tyler Ennis does. And cliché or not, the 19-year-old won’t let Syracuse lose."
Coach Jim Boeheim in his own Boeheim way praised the freshman.
"“He had his worst game tonight I think all year,”"
Tyus Battle vs. Clemson 2/7/17
Battle against Clemson struggled all night. After a Donte Grantham jumper put the Tigers up 81-79 with only seven seconds. After a timeout Boeheim drew up a similar play to the Jenkins shot against North Carolina last year. John Gillon drove up the court and hit a trailing Tyler Lydon who attempted a drive to the basket. After a defender collapsed on Lydon, Lydon hit an open battle who connected on his second shot of the game, for the win.
Pearl, Ennis, Battle.
Next: Syracuse Basketball Was Battle Tested Last Night, And They Prevailed
The only three freshman who have beaten the clock for a win in Syracuse Basketball history.