T-Free's Three To Win The Rivalry

What do John Wall and Tommy Freeman have in common?

Both have made game-winning shots against Miami.

Again tonight, Ohio was left with one possession to win the game. The Bobcats have had their flubs and triumphs in those moments this season.

Kenny Hayes makes a heck of a layup and only seven seconds remain. Cooper’s coming up the court. No timeout called, no timeout…oh gosh!

Freeman, off the pick from KVK. Get free, put it up.

It’s up. Collective gasp.

It’s good.

.6 left. It might as well have been a buzzer beater. O-Zone going nuts. Convo at a fever pitch. It wasn’t just a promotion; it really was Green Fever in that place.

A hopeless desperation heave by Miami, then game over. Ohio 70, Miami 68. A sea of green rushing onto the Convo court. Absolute insanity.

It was the rivalry game that ended in epic fashion. You couldn’t ask for more in college basketball. It’s not Duke/UNC but it sure felt like something close to it for this mid-major. Pulling the archrival’s heart out and stepping on it with one shooting stroke.

It wasn’t just a game winning shot. It was the junior Freeman finally getting the chance and making the most of it.

It was a blow to Miami’s first round bye chances.

It was one shot that may have just changed Ohio’s season. That could turn this ship around. Now, the Bobcats are 6-8 in conference with a chance at a first round home game. Now, the final two games mean a whole lot.

And this moment may have been the catalyst, the momentum that propels the Bobcats forward. We’ll see soon enough.

But right now, there’s no denying the greatness of Freeman’s moment. That’s what it was; a moment…and it came in the rivalry game.

Just like at Kentucky, the game once again got away from Miami coach Charlie Coles. This time, it wasn’t a stud freshman in the Bluegrass State. It was the scrappy sharp shooter from Muncie. Now, Tommy Freeman’s name will live in lore in the history of the Battle of the Bricks.