March Madness starts early with Lehigh's miraculous half-court buzzer-beater

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Both the calendar and basketball court say it is March.

Lehigh University advanced to the Patriot League tournament semifinals on Thursday night after a half-court prayer went nothing but net at the buzzer.

Nasir Whitlock of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks shoots a three-point field goal attempt during an NCAA men's basketball game at Oceanfirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, New Jersey on Dec. 21, 2025. (Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Nasir Whitlock caught the inbound pass with 2.1 seconds left, dribbled up two steps and heaved his shot toward the basket.

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Whitlock was mobbed by his teammates when the shot went in for a 69-66 victory over Holy Cross.

Lehigh led by as many as nine early on in the game, getting out to a 16-7 lead within the first 6:29 of the game and leading by five at halftime. After Lehigh got the first bucket of the second half, Holy Cross went on a 15-6 run to take a four-point lead, which they eventually would grow to six with 2:43 to go.

Lehigh Mountain Hawks guard Nasir Whitlock (1) in action during a basketball game against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the Resorts World Las Vegas Classic basketball tournament on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at the Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But the Mountain Hawks battled back thanks to Whitlock knocking down a pair of free throws and then making a layup to trail by two. Hank Alvey's layup tied the game with 1:12 to go, but Holy Cross' Gabe Warren made a jumper with 21 seconds left to put the Crusaders back up.

Whitlock, though, tied the game again with 11 seconds