The game was on the line. The shot will live in infamy.

Rutgers was inbounding the ball from behind Purdue’s end of the court . Purdue, that is, #1 in the nation and winning this game by one point. Three seconds remained on the clock.

Three seconds. Don’t blink your eyes too many times ! The inbound pass was fielded by Ron Harper Jr. He dribbled to mid-court and deftly wove between two defenders who surely we’re not looking to foul. There was scant time left to get the shot off.

Harper shot, still at half court. The trajectory of such a shot, accompanied by an extra dose of anticipation, seems to suspend in mid-air longer than it has to. As the ball sailed through the air, one could see the shot clock at 0 seconds.

But finally…. Swish. Nothing but net. Rutgers 70 Purdue 68. Sweet bedlam at the RAC !