The NIT championship came down to one miracle play — and agonizing miss

If only the NCAA Tournament had this much excitement.

The NIT Championship game in Indianapolis between UC Irvine and Chattanooga came down to the final play of overtime.

Trailing 85-84 with 2.4 seconds left in overtime, UC Irvine’s Devin Tillis tossed a full-court pass that was pulled in by Bent Leuchten. The 7-foot-1 center then fed the ball to a wide-open Jurian Dixon, whose rushed layup painfully rolled off the rim, giving Chattanooga its first NIT title.

It came after a dramatic and nervous final minute for both teams.

Leuchten went to the free-throw line with 31 seconds left in overtime for a chance at a three-point lead, but he missed both free throws.

Chattanooga’s Garrison Keeslar then sank a go-ahead jumper from the free-throw line with 11 seconds to retake the lead.

After Keeslar’s make, an entry pass to Leuchten was overthrown and Chattanooga secured the loose ball before missing two free throws to give the Anteaters another chance that would only add to the heartbreak.

Both programs were playing in their first NIT championship game.

Bonham had 19 points to go with 10 rebounds for Chattanooga. Keeslar secured his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Huff also had 14 points.

Tillis scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half for UC Irvine. Leuchten finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Bonham sank a half-court shot just before the halftime buzzer to give Chattanooga a 38-37 lead at the break.

Both teams had a controversial call go against them in the final 20 seconds of regulation.

Chattanooga’s Honor Huff kicked out a leg to draw a foul and made three free throws with 16.3 seconds left to give Chattanooga its first lead, 76-74, since it was 38-37.

Then Irvine’s Myles Che got a defender in the air on a 3-pointer and jumped into him before making 2 of 3 free throws to tie it at 76-all.

— With AP