South Carolina Buries Incredible Half-Court, Halftime Buzzer-Beater Vs. Oregon

Published|Updated

The NCAA Tournament is underway and March Madness is in full-swing. Thursday saw a huge upset as #11 Duquesne, a nine-point underdog, beat #6 BYU in the second game of the day. The #11 Oregon Ducks beating the #6 South Carolina Gamecocks would qualify as a seeding upset, although Oregon was actually favored to win prior to tip-off. 

The Ducks looked the part of the better team despite their lower seeding, coming out flying (pardon the pun) against the mostly-flightless Gamecocks (enjoy that pun). The game went back-and-forth from the start through the middle of the first half, but that's when Oregon started pouring in the buckets. 

After South Carolina took a 22-21 lead, Oregon went on an 11-0 run to open up a double-digit lead, the first for either team in the game. As any college basketball coach will tell you, the goal when you're trailing like that is to get the deficit under 10 points before halftime. 

Jermaine Couisnard of the Oregon Ducks goes to the basket against Ta'Lon Cooper of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Jermaine Couisnard of the Oregon Ducks goes to the basket against Ta'Lon Cooper of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

(Getty Images)

The Gamecocks were well within that range, even after the Ducks hit a two-point field goal with just five seconds left in the half to put Oregon back up eight points. It looked like an eight-point deficit would be the hill that South Carolina would need to climb in the second half. 

At least until Gamecocks guard Ta'Lon Cooper hoisted up a prayer as the buzzer sounded, banking his shot off the backboard for three points just before the break. Talk about gaining some important momentum just before halftime. 

The NCAA Tournament is just a few games old to this point, but we've yet to see a game-winning buzzer beater. For now, though, the coolest shot is Cooper's bomb to beat the halftime clock. 

The South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate after guard Ta'Lon Cooper made a last-second shot before half-time against the Oregon Ducks in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

The South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate after guard Ta'Lon Cooper made a last-second shot before half-time against the Oregon Ducks in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

(Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

We'll have to see if that bucket turns out to play a major factor in the final score in the game…

Tags
Written by
Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to Outkick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named “Brady” because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.