Knights sink Pirates' ship with buzzer beater
Mike Vorkunov / Associate Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Sports
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With the game tied at 61 after a rebound and put back by Seton Hall's Jamar Nutter, the Scarlet Knights junior found himself with the ball in his hands and a chance to be the hero.
Inman - a long time source of antipathy from fans - received a pass along the sideline in front of the Rutgers bench and, with time quickly running out, let go a running off-balance three-pointer off of one leg.
The shot fell through the net, barely touching rim, and definitively before the buzzer. It made the Knights winners, 64-61, in their last game of the season and Inman the most popular man on the floor as he was immediately mobbed by his teammates.
"Anthony got the inbounds pass, took two dribbles and saw me up the floor, and no one was guarding me," Inman said in describing the game-winning play that accounted for three of his seven points. "Once I caught it, I really took no hesitation. I didn't even think.
"I work on shots like that all the time in practice. Just running, doing runners in the lane, even from three. So I just had my form ready. I just told myself I was gonna put it up and see what happens."
The shot seemed to be as much a game winner for the forward from Pomona, N.Y. as a monkey off of his back, after a long and criticism-ridden season for Rutgers' leading scorer.
"It was a great feeling," Inman said about how he felt after hitting the game winner. "The greatest feeling I've had all season."
Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez realized the significance of the shot for Inman, with news of his season-long distractions making its way to the rival coach.
"From what I understand, JR Inman has gotten a hard time this year. He's really been through a rough stretch," Gonzalez said. "Let me tell you something: That kid is talented.
"I wish we had that kid and he made a hell of a shot, so you gotta take your hat off to a guy that shoots a runner. He has the presence of mind to shoot a runner from three."