We voted JEROME WHITEHEAD’S Dunk Against UNC-Charlotte as the most important shot in the history of the Marquette Basketball program. Here is an excerpt from a story I wrote in 2003 about last second shots in MU history.
(MU 51-UNCC 49), March 26, 1977 - Without a doubt Jerome Whitehead’s last second game winning shot was the most important field goal in the history of Marquette basketball. The Warriors were playing UNCC in the NCAA Tournament semi-final game in Atlanta.
After leading for most of the game, the Warriors fell behind 47-44 with 1:41 remaining in the game. Butch Lee then hit two long jump shots from the key and Gary Rosenberger made a free throw to give the Warriors a 49-47 lead.
When Charlotte center Cedric Maxwell answered with a ten-foot jump shot to tie the score with 3 seconds left, Marquette called a time-out. Al McGuire walked out onto the floor to check the height of the overhanging scoreboard. McGuire instructed Butch Lee to throw a long pass in the direction of Bo Ellis or Jerome Whitehead.
When play resumed, Lee threw the ball down court and both Ellis and Maxwell jumped for it. Somehow, the ball slipped through their grasp and into Whitehead’s hands. Whitehead went to the basket for a dunk, but Maxwell tried to block the shot.
The ball hit off the backboard and back into the cylinder area as the ball went in. When the buzzer went off, everyone on the court looked to the officials. Was the shot good? Was there goaltending on Maxwell? On Whitehead? Was there a foul on Maxwell? On Whitehead? McGuire and Charlotte coach Lee Rose joined in a heated and animated discussion with official Paul Gaven, and the official scorer, Larry Carter, at the scorer’s table. Gaven asked Carter where the ball was when the buzzer sounded. “In the basket,” said Carter. At that moment McGuire raised his fist and hugged Butch Lee and the Marquette section went wild. The last second shot capped the greatest game in Whitehead’s career. Against Charlotte he scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds.
