When it comes to basketball highlight reels, one clip that surely makes the cut is Tyus Edney’s full-court drive and buzzer-beating floater in UCLA’s 1995 NCAA Tournament West Regional game vs. Missouri. As the star point guard for the eventual NCAA Champion Bruins, Edney was already a terrific playmaker. And after his unforgettable game-winning bank shot to beat the Tigers, his moniker became a household name.
Trailing 74-73 with 4.8 seconds left, top-seeded UCLA inbounded the ball beneath its own basket. Edney took the pass from Cameron Dollar and raced the length of the court—94 feet to be exact—with a behind-the-back dribble near center court to evade a pressing defender. As he approached the free throw line, Missouri’s 6’ 9” forward Derek Grimm slid over in an attempt to block him. Edney went airborne, adjusted his shot and banked it in just as time expired. The Bruins escaped with a 75-74 victory and went on to reach the Final Four, and then win the national title with a convincing 89-78 victory over the defending NCAA Champion Arkansas Razorbacks. But if not for Edney’s heroics against Mizzou, the Bruins never would have even made it past the second round.
This lot features the very jersey that Edney wore that memorable game on March 19th in Boise, ID. In fact, Edney attests to wearing this same shirt throughout the entire ’95 NCAA tourney, including both Final Four contests. After suffering a wrist injury in the National Semifinals against Oklahoma State, Edney played just three minutes in the title game. Sporting the Bruins’ home white with blue-and-yellow trim on the elastic collar and sleeves, the jersey is a classic with "UCLA" and his uniform number “11” affixed in powder blue tackle twill on the front. "EDNEY" and a much larger number “11” adorn the back in the same fashion. A Reebok manufacturer’s tag appears on the front of the left tail.
The jersey shows ample wear. Edney has signed the front in fine-point blue marker, just below his jersey number, and added the following inscription: “My 1995 NCAA Game Worn Jersey - Mizzou Buzzer Beater - Final Four and NCAA Championship!” He added his uniform number (“#11”) just below his signature. His game-winning shot for UCLA in the second round of the ‘95 NCAA Tournament is considered one of the most famous plays in college basketball history.
Includes LOA from Tyus Edney. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.