Shavar Reynolds seconds after hitting the game-winning shot for Seton Hall against St. John’s — Image credit: Seton Hall University
It was an epic ending to what started out surprisingly one-sided between St. John’s and Seton Hall.
Shavar Reynolds sat in the media room after the game with a smile on his face electric enough to light up the night sky. Seton Hall’s reserve sophomore guard was taking it all in. The questions, the congratulations, the pat on the backs, and the high-fives.
What preceded this scene was a dizzying array of moments no one in the building, or watching from their televisions, saw coming.
Reynolds had just drained a buzzer-beating three pointer to give Seton Hall a stunning 76-74 win over St. John’s at a sold out Prudential Center. Every basketball player has dreamed of this moment at least once in their lives. For Reynolds, a walk-on last season, it became reality.
“It’s been a long journey,” said Reynolds, who was awarded a scholarship in August. “That solidified all the hard work and all the hours in the gym. That just proved it was all worth it.”
“All his hard work has given me the confidence to put him in the game in that situation,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “It’s really gratifying. Every high school kid should understand that if you work really hard, have a good attitude, and you’re a good person, good things will happen to you. That’s Shavar Reynolds.”
This moment of gratification for Willard, when Reynolds took the pass from Sandro Mamukelashvili on a drive and kick-out, almost never happened.
Controversy at “The Rock”
St. John’s led 74-73 with 3.9 seconds left on the game clock. The Pirates were setup to inbound the basketball. Quincy McKnight’s inbound pass, however, was deflected by LJ Figueroa.
Figueroa was able to deflect the pass while he was inbounds before leaping into the court-side seats in an effort to try and save it from going out of bounds. This is where it gets tricky …
Referee Michael Stephens whistled the play dead, this led to a very lengthy video review by the officials. Seton Hall was rewarded the basketball with 3.1 seconds left on the game clock.
According to a Big East official, the referees were reviewing a “timing error” because the clock did not start on Figueroa’s initial touch. They were not looking at whether Figueroa stepped out of bounds, which replays did not clearly show he did.
This set the stage for Reynolds to send everyone home with a classic moment.
Former walk-on Shavar Reynolds drains the game-winning three at the buzzer as Seton Hall comes back to beat previously undefeated St. John's!
(via @NCAAhoopsdigest) pic.twitter.com/h6INBBEwDK
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 30, 2018
Shavar Reynolds just said LET’S GO HOME!!!! #SHBB #HALLIn #SJUvsSHU
— Anthony Rushing Jr. (@TonyRushingNY) December 30, 2018
Seton Hall guard Shavar Reynolds sends everyone at Prudential Center into a frenzy with the game-winner against St. John’s — Image credit: FOX Sports
After the game, St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin spoke to the media and clearly went out of his way to choose his words carefully when asked about the controversial call by the referees.
““Even though you don’t get fined in college … I should say something,” said Mullin. ” I’m going to keep my thoughts to myself on that.”
Mullin handled that moment about as well as could be done. He also gave credit where it was due.
“We just never really created any separation,” Mullin said. “It was a heck of a game. Their kid made a heck of a shot.”
Here are couple of takeaways, from press row at “The Rock”:
Missed opportunities led to heartbreak for St. John’s.
St. John’s led by as much as 16 in this game. They were 6-of-12 from behind the three-point line before halftime. Everything which went right for them in the first half (ball movement, spacing, hot shooting) came to a screeching halt after the break. Seton Hall eventually would go on a 10-0 run while the Johnnies went ice cold from the field.
St. John’s has gone ice cold down the stretch. They’ve missed their last 10 shots. #SJUBB
Seton Hall on a 10-0 run to tie the game w/ 2:41 left to play. #HALLin
— Anthony Rushing Jr. (@TonyRushingNY) December 30, 2018
Seton Hall went ahead with one minute remaining, 73-72, on a Myles Powell layup. Here was another opportunity where St. John’s found themselves in position to still come away with the win.
Mustapha Heron put the Red Storm ahead, 74-73, with free throws. But missed free throws from Heron and Shamorie Ponds, seconds later, completed the groundwork for the shocking conclusion. St. John’s was 15-for-18 from the free throw line, but those key misses in crucial moments were body blows.
Seton Hall is as gritty as they come.
The Pirates took a punch in the mouth from St. John’s at the start of this game. The Red Storm opened up a 13-2 lead before many of the sellout crowd could take a sip of their beverages.
But there’s a grittiness to this team I believe they get from their head coach Kevin Willard. He’s as engaging as they come during his talks with the media, but there’s a hunger and desire to win in him which shows on the sidelines. He doesn’t get too high or too low and this showed every step of the way throughout this game.
It wasn’t pretty, but Seton hall was able to scrap their way back in the second half. It’s evidence of what happens when you never give up or accept defeat. Situations will present themselves where the opportunity to snatch victory from defeat becomes possible. It may sound cliche, but it’s also the beauty of team sports, especially in college basketball.
