Oops.
Caleb McCarty went from hero to zero within seconds.
The South Carolina State forward committed a brutal blunder late in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament final against top-seeded Norfolk State, costing his team a potential shot at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With second-seeded SC State trailing 65-63, McCarty capitalized on a Norfolk State turnover on an inbounds pass, scoring a layup to tie the game at 65 with 10.6 seconds left.
But McCarty seemingly didn’t know the score, as he then chased down Christian Ings to foul him after Norfolk State inbounded the ball.
SC State FOULS in a TIED game and loses the MEAC Championship 🤯pic.twitter.com/0l1W8OmZBm
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 15, 2025
It gave Ings two free throws as a complete gift.
He subsequently hit one of the two, giving Norfolk State a 66-65 lead with 8.9 seconds left.
Caleb McCarty commits a foul at the end of the SC State-Norfolk State game on March 15, 2025. X / @MrMatthew_CFB
Caleb McCarty commits a foul at the end of the SC State-Norfolk State game on March 15, 2025. X / @MrMatthew_CFBAnd SC State’s last-gasp shot at the buzzer missed, sending Norfolk State to the Big Dance while SC State heads back home heartbroken.
McCarty finished with four points, two rebounds and that one costly foul.
SC State had led at halftime, 34-25, but the team’s 22-year NCAA Tournament drought continues.
