TicketsIn the first regular-season game in the new arena, the Bearcats upset the 20th-ranked Golden Gophers, 66-64, on a last-second 3-point shot by Steve Sanders, a walk-on from the football team. Not only was it the first game inside the new arena, then known as Shoemaker Center, but it was also the first game of Head Coach Bob Huggins' tenure at UC.
Bearcats Watch Party, presented by Nathan's Hot Dogs, airs on Thursday, July. 23, 2020 at 7 p.m. ET on GoBEARCATS.com, Facebook and YouTube. This week's broadcast will close out GoBEARCATS.com's summer Watch Party series.
Scott Springer penned a 2017 story for GoBEARCATS.com on Sanders' shot.
Here are some excerpts ...
Sanders was a wide receiver from Cleveland, Ohio, who played four years for the UC football team, finishing out his eligibility in 2008.
He joined the basketball team in the fall of 1989 through walk-on tryouts.
Sanders, who would average 7.0 points and 2.5 rebounds for the season, had four points all game. Until the very end.
In the final seconds, Kevin Lynch of Minnesota tried to save a ball from going out of bounds and throw it off the leg of UC's Keith Starks. He missed, and the ball bounced down the court and went out of bounds right under the UC basket. Eight-tenths of a second remained on the clock.
Huggins called a timeout. The first thing he said was, "You guys are going to win this basketball game."
The play designed called for Tate to inbound the ball and lob it toward the basket for either Starks, Levertis Robinson or Lou Banks, all great leapers. As the huddle broke, Huggins grabbed Sanders by the arm and said, "Steve, if they can't get it inside, you have to break around because Andre's going to throw you the ball."
Sure enough, Tate couldn't get the ball where he wanted. Sanders broke toward the ball, faked back, then went to the corner in front of the UC bench. Tate delivered a perfect pass. Sanders caught it and shot it, his first 3-point attempt of the night.
"It felt perfect," Sanders said. "It felt like I just placed the ball into the basket. It had to go in. I saw it and when it went in, I was so happy. There was so much energy flowing through my body I cannot explain. I jumped up and down and ran, and they chased me and caught me. They dived on top of me. They picked me and then I got down and ran across the court and up into the stands. Everybody was off the court but me. I'm still running around in the stands. Then I run down back through the court again. When I finally got in the locker room, I was so hyped and excited, I just had to go lay down on the floor in the shower. ... It was truly amazing."
HOW TO WATCH
The game will be available by clicking the view link on this page which will be posted Thursday, on YouTube (Click HERE) or on Facebook Watch (Click HERE). Bearcats Watch Party is presented by Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.
ABOUT FACEBOOK WATCH
Facebook Watch is a place to discover and enjoy shows on Facebook. Home to a wide range of shows – from scripted comedy and drama, to competition and reality series, to individual creators and live sports – Facebook Watch is a video platform where episodic content, community and conversation come together. This is a personalized viewing experience, where you can discover new series based on what your friends are watching and catch up on the shows you follow. Facebook Watch is available for free on mobile apps across Apple and Android, on desktop, laptop and on TV apps listed here: https://videoapp.fb.com/.
You do not need a Facebook account to watch the game online.
The Facebook Watch TV app is available on:
• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV (4th generation or newer)
• Android TV
• Samsung Smart TV (2015 or newer)
• Xbox One
• Oculus TV
Learn how to download the Facebook Watch TV app.
Note: If you don't have a compatible platform to download the app, you can also stream Facebook video from your device to a TV.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati men's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Head Coach John Brannen (@CoachBrannen) and the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.