The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team is no stranger to buzzer beaters.  The Panthers won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on a buzzer beater from point guard Wes Washpun. Washpun’s game winning shot was, however, only a bit behind the free-throw line.  Paul Jesperson’s was further out. A lot further out.  Jesperson’s heave from halfcourt in the final seconds gave the winners of the Missouri Valley Conference one of the most thrilling wins ever in the NCAA Tournament.  Through the first half of the game, it didn’t appear that UNI would need a three at the buzzer to win.  The Texas Longhorns came out of the gates bucking to open up a 7-0 lead.  The lead did not last as Northern Iowa got on a roll. At one point in the first half, the Panthers led the Longhorns 33-17.  Texas made a run towards the end of the half and got help from a Javan Felix three in the closing seconds to cut the deficit to eight heading into the break.  The second half was all Texas.  They went on a 17-3 run to retake a comfortable lead at 53-47 with around 12 minutes remaining in the game.  UNI battled back to tie the game at 60 but neither team could get any sort of advantage the rest of the way.  Washpun gave the Panthers a 72-70 lead with 11 ticks left on the clock.  Texas tied the game on a jumper by Isaiah Taylor with 3 seconds left on the clock.  It appeared that overtime was on the horizon.  Paul Jesperson had other ideas.  The senior received a pass and nailed a 42-foot bomb as time expired to give UNI a 75-72 win. Washpun finished with a team high 17 points as Jesperson added 14.  For Texas Isaiah Taylor had a solid all-around game with a game high 22 points to go along with 6 assists and 4 rebounds.  

Northern Iowa moves on to square off against another school from the Lone Star state-Texas A&M.