Apparently, knowing which basket you’re supposed to score on is no longer a prerequisite for playing college basketball. Of course, I’m joking, but if you saw the lowlights from the New Mexico State and Northwestern State women’s basketball teams, you might not be so sure. Each team delivered a spectacularly embarrassing moment Friday by gifting the opposing team points while scoring on the wrong basket.
Yes, you read that correctly. Twice. On the same day in college basketball, two different women’s teams scored on their own baskets.
The first disaster came during Northwestern State’s matchup against Arkansas, when Lady Demons guard Karma Wynn inexplicably put the ball into the Razorbacks’ basket on an inbounds play in the backcourt. This was after an offensive foul, too. They were guarding the basket, got a stop, and Wynn still brain-farted and gave Arkansas free points.
ROYALS IMPLODE WITH 3 ERRORS AS METS’ CARSON BENGE SCORES LITTLE LEAGUE HOME RUN TO OPEN GAME VS KC
The reaction from the Northwestern State bench said just about everything you need to know. An assistant coach buried her head into her clipboard, while teammates just about leaped out of their seats in shock. Arkansas was handed two free points, and the Razorbacks went on to win big, 89-59.
But just when you thought we’d reached peak basketball stupidity, New Mexico State decided to raise the bar. This one has an interesting twist, so stay in your seat.
With just over 20 seconds remaining against Southern Utah, New Mexico State trailed 61-60. Guard Emma Christiana made a great play by stealing an inbounds pass, then kept going toward the wrong end of the court. She effortlessly laid the ball into her own basket, but judging by her initial reaction and those of the people in the stands, they had no idea Southern Utah had taken the lead in the most insane way.
With the game on the line, Christiana scored two points for the other team. Even crazier: The scorekeeper didn’t notice the blunder either. On the broadcast, you would’ve thought, by the scoreboard, that New Mexico State took the lead.
WNBA FAN GOES VIRAL FOR HALF-COURT SHOT HORROR SHOW THAT LEFT HIM SPRAWLED ON THE COURT
Apparently, even the person responsible for keeping score couldn’t comprehend that someone had just scored on the wrong basket. At that point, you almost have to wonder whether anyone in the building knew what was happening. What a mess.
And somehow, despite literally helping Southern Utah take a 63-60 lead, New Mexico State pulled off the win. Freshman Stacy Chovino scored twice in the final seconds, including the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining, on the correct basket, to give the Aggies a stunning 64-63 victory.
Imagine winning a basketball game after scoring for your opponent in the final 30 seconds. That’s almost more impressive than the mistake itself.
Two teams. Two own baskets. One afternoon.
Somewhere, a youth basketball coach is preparing a very important PowerPoint presentation titled, “Which Basket Is Ours?” Because apparently, we need to go back to basics.