In the spring of 1995, UCLA was coming off back-to-back disappointing tourney runs, dropping a heartbreaker in the round of 32 to Michigan in 1993 followed by getting bounced by Tulsa in the first round in 1994. So one could be forgiven for not having the highest of expectations for Jim Harrick’s Bruins as March Madness approached in ‘95.
Tyus Edney, UCLA pull off the impossible to win the 1995 NCAA Championship
The UCLA Bruins were on the verge of being eliminated from the 1995 NCAA Tournament in the round of 32. Tyus Edney had other plans, however, in leading them to college basketball immortality.Watch on YouTube | Subscribe to SB Nation on YouTube
And early on in the NCAA Tournament, it looked to be more of the same. Facing Missouri in the round of 32, UCLA trailed 74-73 with under five seconds left to play. UCLA was on the ropes -- on the brink of yet another early exit. But UCLA’s senior point guard Tyus Edney refused to let his Bruins lose and have his collegiate career end in heartbreak yet again. With 4.8 seconds left, Edney got the ball and sprinted down the court where he simply could not be denied. He banked in the game-winner at the buzzer, sending UCLA to the Sweet 16 and keeping their dreams of glory alive.
After that, there was no stopping UCLA. They advanced to the Final Four after defeating Ray Allen’s Connecticut Huskies and ultimately found themselves in the National Championship Game. There, Corliss Williamson and the Arkansas Razorbacks proved to be no match for these mighty Bruins, who could now call themselves champions. Tyus Edney and the rest of UCLA truly were Heroes of March.
See More:
