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These NBA Players Lost Their Minds Over Villanova’s Buzzer-Beating NCAA Championship Victory

It’s a good time to be a Wildcat! NBA players and fans all over the country went nuts when Villanova University won the NCAA Championship on Monday, April 4 — and for good reason.

The Wildcats battled the North Carolina Tar Heels all night, bouncing back from a deficit at the half and then losing a double-digit lead in the final minutes of the game. The teams were tied at 74 points each with just five seconds left on the clock when junior Kris Jenkins raced down the court and made a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer thanks to an assist by senior Ryan Arcidiacono.

Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats puts up the game-winning three-point shot as time expires against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at NRG Stadium on April 04, 2016 in Houston, Texas.
Kris Jenkins, #2 of the Villanova Wildcats, puts up the game-winning three-point shot as time expires against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016, in Houston.

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Villanova coach Jay Wright had the best reaction at the buzzer. “Bang,” he could be seen mouthing from the sidelines.

Jenkins, 22, opened up about the incredible play during an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday. “We put the ball in Ryan’s hands because we know he’s going to make the right decision,” he explained. “He usually makes the shot but last night he made the pass.”

The young forward also revealed who taught him how to play — his mom, Felicia Jenkins. “She started with me when I was young,” he gushed, “and she even coaches me on my shots still to this day.”

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Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates after making the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.
Kris Jenkins, #2 of the Villanova Wildcats, celebrates after making the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016, in Houston.

Jenkins played against his brother, UNC star Nate Britt, on Monday night. According to ESPN, Felicia asked Nate’s parents to be Kris’ legal guardians in 2007. She reportedly liked how the parents disciplined, but no further reasoning for her decision was given.

Felicia, meanwhile, was on hand to support both men at the heated match. Kris told GMA that Felicia was “shocked” that he was wide open to make the final play. NBA stars far and wide felt the same way, despite often going through their fair share of high-pressure situations.

“Now that was a GAME!!!” Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade tweeted. Wade’s teammate Chris Bosh added: “Best championship finish I’ve ever seen! Wow! #NationalChampionship #Villanova.”

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Charlotte Hornets player Frank Kaminsky III also watched the game. “That was the best college basketball ending I have ever seen,” he wrote. Myles Turner share the same sentiment. He tweeted: “What an incredible game! Flat out phenomenal.”

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