In a stunning turn of events, Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love etched his name into college basketball lore with an unforgettable game-winning heave against the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones. With the Wildcats trailing 71-68 and mere seconds remaining on the clock, Love received the inbound pass, dribbled briefly, and launched a seemingly impossible shot from well beyond half-court. The ball swished through the net as time expired, sending the Wildcats bench into a frenzy and forcing overtime.

Love's heroics propelled Arizona to an 86-75 victory, completing a remarkable comeback against a highly ranked opponent. The senior transfer, who joined the Wildcats from North Carolina, finished the game with 22 points, albeit on an inefficient shooting night. He connected on 8 of 22 field goal attempts and just 4 of 13 from beyond the arc, but his clutch performance ultimately overshadowed his earlier struggles. Love also contributed two assists and two steals.

After the game, a jubilant Love described the moment as the "best of my life," emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidence and trusting in one's preparation, even amidst adversity. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd praised Love's composure and execution on the game-winner, revealing that the team practices half-court shots regularly. Lloyd jokingly added that he might even be slightly better than Love at such shots.

The upset victory marked a significant boost for Arizona's tournament hopes, improving their record to 14-6 overall and 4-2 against ranked opponents. The Wildcats had previously suffered losses to Duke and UCLA earlier in the season. Iowa State, entering the game with a 17-3 record, saw their impressive run come to a dramatic end. Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey led his team with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting.