Senior Mason Degenkolb will forever be a legend to Taylor University.
With 1.6 seconds remaining on the clock and the game tied at 85-85, Degenkolb was inbounded the ball and threw up the ball from full court and put Wednesday's game against No. 13 Grace College to bed in the Crossroads League quarterfinals.
“All the glory to God, it’s my last season, and I’m not ready for it to be done yet,” Degenkolb said. “God gave me the ability to play basketball at the college level and he put me in that position to make that shot. So I can’t take all the credit for it.”
Against nationally ranked Grace, Taylor knew they were the underdogs, but they sure didn't play like it. The Trojans were up by 15 points in the first half.
Then came the last two minutes.
With two minutes and 32 seconds remaining on the clock, a three pointer by Grace’s Charlie Warner brought the game to 78-77, in the Trojans' favor. Taylor never lost the lead, but with yet another three pointer by Charlie Warner in the waning seconds, the game was tied.
That's when Degenkolb hit Taylor's version of the shot heard round the world. From the intramural courts, to the student center and even to the residence halls; Degenkolb's shot was known.
“It’s something that you dream about as a kid, being a basketball player,” Degenkolb said, “just throwing it up for the game winner.”
Degenkolb led all scorers with 23, while sophomore Jason Hubbard posted an impressive 21 with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.
With the win Taylor will advance to the Crossroads League Semifinals against Bethel University, who the Trojans beat 74-70 in their last meeting. The game will be played Saturday at 3 p.m. in Odle Arena.
Both CBS and ESPN have re-posted the video of Degenkolb's shot on their social media and ESPN interviewed Degenkolb live on Thursday morning. The play earned SportsCenter’s No. 1 distinction in their famous “Top Ten” plays segment on Wednesday night.
