Eastern Michigan and North Alabama game winners headline wild Tuesday night

Photo-finishing performances from both Eastern Michigan and North Alabama highlighted a Tuesday night frenzy of men’s college hoops. See how they both went down ⤵️

Eastern Michigan’s Jalin Billingsley jams putback dunk

Down a point to Akron with 8.4 seconds remaining, the Eastern Michigan Eagles turned to 36% three-point shooter Arne Osojnik with the final possession. Off the insert, Osojnik dribbled the ball around the arc and fired it within four seconds, only for the ball to dink off the iron and backboard. But just in time, Jalin Billingsley crossed to the bottom of the key and crammed the loose ball through the rim with his left hand to give the Eagles a 61-60 advantage.

The Eagles dominated the offensive glass Tuesday night, out-rebounding Akron offensively 15-8 and notching 11 second-chance buckets — the last one leading to this dub. With the win, Eastern Washington spoiled Akron’s shot at a share of the MAC regular-season title and its formerly undefeated home record. 

A PUTBACK DUNK FOR THE WIN ????

(via @EMU_MBB)pic.twitter.com/8A0acs5yba

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 6, 2024

Raucous last-second finish by North Alabama’s KJ Johnson against his former school

It was crazy that North Alabama’s KJ Johnson ran a full-court sprint in 4.3 seconds and shot a basket without stopping his forward momentum for a 77-75 win at the buzzer. It’s even crazier that this occurrence happened against his former school, Lipscomb, where he had played his first two years of college ball. North Alabama and Lipscomb also happen to be fierce ASUN rivals. 

Though North Alabama led for 38 of the 40 minutes of regulation, the last 60 seconds were pure havoc. The teams traded triples and Johnson banked in a layup for North Alabama’s 75-72 advantage with :35 to go. Fouled by Lipscomb’s Cody Head with :12 remaining, Johnson missed his first free throw, which was taken for a three-point Lipscomb shot to knot the score at 75. What happened next, well, see for yourself…

MORE ASUN TOURNAMENT MADNESS ????

NORTH ALABAMA WINS AT THE BUZZER ???? @UNA_Basketball

(via @tnvalleynetwork)pic.twitter.com/DfMk6RQijg

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 6, 2024

With the win, North Alabama advances to the Atlantic Sun semifinals. The Lions will face Austin Peay on Thursday.