As time expiring, SU freshman guard Tyler Ennis hit a three-pointer game winner to give the No. 1 Orange a 58-56 win over No. 25 Pittsburgh
From Derrick Coleman to John Wallace in basketball and Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Lloyd Little in football, the number 44 has been a lucky omen for Syracuse athletics.
The trend continued Wednesday night, as freshman guard Tyler Ennis[22] hit a game-winning, buzzer beating three-pointer after No. 25 Pittsburgh (20-5, 8-4 ACC) took the lead against No. 1 Syracuse (24-0, 11-0 ACC) with 4.4 seconds left in the game.
That shot, an improbable last-ditch effort by a team that had no business winning, cemented Ennis into Syracuse lore.
Whenever Syracuse basketball junkies think of amazing game-winning shots, they think about Gerry McNamara, John Wallace, Ryan Blackwell and Pearl Washington.
And now Ennis, just 24 games into his college basketball career, joins these SU legends as players who will be forever remembered for saving games and breaking the hearts of the opponent. But is his shot the best in SU history?
Here are some other great game-winning shots that are in contention for best ever:
“The Shot”
Dwayne “Pearl” Washington hits half-court game-winner versus Boston College in 1984.
“Mile High Madness”
John Wallace makes last-second shot against Georgia in 1996 Sweet Sixteen.
“The Dagger”
Ryan Blackwell pushes SU past St. John’s in the second round of the 1998 Big East Tournament.
“Georgetown Still Sucks”
Only a sophomore, Gerry McNamara hits game-winning three and the Orange win at Georgetown in 2004.
“G-Mac Attacks”
McNamara, now a senior, sends the Orange into the second round of the 2006 Big East Tournament with the buzzer beater over Cincinnati.
“The One That Should Have Counted”
Although it was called off, Eric Devendorf’s three-point shot against No. 3 UConn in the 2009 Big East Tournament was a phenomenal shot. However, the “miss” ignited a classic battle that ended with No. 18 SU winning in six overtimes.
“The Shot Heard 'Round the World”
Tyler Ennis sinks a three-pointer from way behind the arc to beat No. 25 Pitt, stay undefeated on the season, and remain the best team in the country.
