One of the best college basketball games I ever saw took place 19 years ago on 3/17/90. Read the below story from the NY Times.
Happy St. Patty's Day.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Southeast Regional; Georgia Tech Squeaks Past L.S.U.
By BARRY JACOBS, Special to The New York Times
Appropriately enough, the ball ended up in Kenny Anderson's hands. And after surviving 10 blocked shots, a 15-point blitz by Louisiana State in the game's opening minutes, and a final, desperation shot by the Tigers' Maurice Williamson, Georgia Tech watched the last second tick off the clock in a breathtaking 94-91 victory over L.S.U.
The victory by the fourth-seeded Yellow Jackets (26-6) sent them to a Southeast Regional semifinal game next Friday at New Orleans, where they will play top-seed Michigan State (28-5), a 62-58 winner over California-Santa Barbara.
It was only fitting that after Williamson's miss the ball caromed to Anderson, the 6-2 freshman from Rego Park, N.Y., who gave a performance in which he controlled the Yellow Jackets' offense with near-flawless aplomb, scored 26 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, came up with a crucial late steal and outplayed the two-time all-American Chris Jackson of L.S.U. ''The key thing for me was focus on what I've been doing all year,'' said Anderson, the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year.
After the game Jackson, who scored only 13 points and missed 10 of 15 shots today, announced he would turn professional. ''I've just decided that I will enter the 1990 draft,'' said Jackson, the Southeastern Conference player of the year. ''I feel it's time for me to move on.''
The 6-foot-1-inch sophomore played against Georgia Tech despite chest discomfort and pain under his shoulder that required heavy medication. He was on the bench for the final 2 minutes 42 seconds, however, having fouled out with his team ahead by 88-87.
After Jackson fouled out, Georgia Tech regained the lead on two free throws by the senior guard Brian Oliver (18 points, 7 rebounds).
Twenty-four seconds later, L.S.U. tied the score at 89-89 on a free throw by the the freshman center Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.
Georgia Tech replied with a free throw by Dennis Scott, who finished with a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds. L.S.U. came back with an inside basket by Williamson (16 points, 5 assists) that gave his team a 91-90 lead with 1:47 to go.
Anderson put the Jackets back in front with a penetrating jump shot 10 seconds later. Then at the other end, he tipped away a pass inside, and Georgia Tech went on offense. But Oliver missed a drive, and with 45 seconds left, L.S.U. called time out.
Trailing by a point, the Tigers held the ball, then looked to get it inside to O'Neal or his fellow 7-footer Stanley Roberts, a sophomore who had 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. But Georgia Tech clogged the middle, and with no better option available the forward Vernel Singleton drove to the basket, missed, and fouled Scott on the rebound.
L.S.U. called another timeout, after which Scott made both ends of a one-and-one opportunity. The Tigers had a last chance, but Williamson's shot bounded off the rim into Anderson's hands, and Georgia Tech had advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1986.
Early on, it appeared L.S.U. might blow the Yellow Jackets out of Thompson-Boling Assembly Center. After Georgia Tech took a quick 3-2 lead, L.S.U. exploded, repeatedly converting blocked shots into fast-break opportunities and easy baskets. In a span of 4:35, the Tigers scored on nine consecutive possessions to jump to a 22-5 advantage at the 13:12 mark of the first half. Georgia Tech's only basket during the outburst came on a goaltending call against Roberts on a shot by Scott.
But, as has repeatedly been the case during post-season play, when the Yellow Jackets needed a spark, Anderson provided it, scoring 6 consecutive points sandwiched around a layup by Singleton. Gradually, Georgia Tech fought back to trail by only 41-40 at halftime.
''We were just too, too high, and L.S.U. just took it right to us,'' said the Georgia Tech coach, Bobby Cremins, whose team hit only 37 percent of its shots, but committed a mere four turnovers and held a 52-51 rebounding edge against its larger rivals.
Cremins took heart from another statistic as well: all five teams that have defeated L.S.U. in games played in the second round or beyond in the N.C.A.A. tournament have gone on to capture the national title.