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Students trick team by shouting wrong shot clock time—twice

It’s one of the oldest tricks in basketball, but I’ve never seen it work this well—much less on back-to-back possessions.

 

Austin Powell

Internet Culture

Posted on Nov 17, 2013   Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 1:45 am CDT

It’s one of the oldest tricks in basketball, but I’ve never seen it work this well—much less on back-to-back possessions.

In an unexpected nail-biter Friday night, the Michigan State Spartans, ranked No. 2 in the country, needed all the help it could get to avoid an upset by Columbia Lions. With just under four minutes left in the second half, the MSU’s student section, known as the Izzone, caused two turnovers by chanting the wrong time on the shot clock.

 

A proud student provided some additional commentary on Reddit. “ In the first half of the game we start counting down from 6 when the shot clock says 10,” MrFeeheheeeny wrote. “In the second half we start counting down from 10 when the shot clock says 6. It fools more teams then you would think.”

Screengrab via YouTube

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*First Published: Nov 17, 2013, 3:13 pm CST