Tyus Battle was wide open in the corner for the game-winning buzzer-beating three against Clemson tonight. There’s a good reason: the Tigers didn’t know he was in the game.

Syracuse picked up its fifth straight win tonight in a wild back-and-forth game at Clemson, which saw the Orange stage yet another big comeback in the second half, and for the second time in a week, hit a huge buzzer beater at the end of regulation.

Last week, it was senior point guard John Gillon forcing overtime at N.C. State. Tonight, freshman guard Tyus Battle ended the game with a big time three from the corner, to put the Orange past the Tigers 82-81.

The play was drawn up for star forward Tyler Lydon, designed much like the play Villanova ran to beat UNC in last season’s national championship according to head coach Jim Boeheim. Instead of taking it himself, Lydon found Battle open for the winner.

AT THE BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/Vf8L9mDtrX — ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) February 8, 2017

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said that the team did not realize Battle was in the game, which was part of the reason for the defensive lapse on the final play.

From Syracuse.com’s Chris Carlson:

Clemson coach Brad Brownell said after the game that the Tigers didn’t know Battle was in the game, although he was unsure whether the scorer’s table or his staff made a mistake. It left Clemson center Sidy Djitte guarding Battle on the perimeter. Djitte reverted into his customary habit, coming off Battle to try to protect the lane. “We’re in trouble because he isn’t used to guarding perimeter players that often,” Brownell said. “He leaves the shooter and we lose on a last-second shot.”

That certainly won’t make Clemson fans feel much better about things. Considering Syracuse has fallen into a short rotation, with Battle playing nearly 30 minutes per game, we have no idea why Clemson would think he would be on the bench in the crucial moment.

[Syracuse.com]