Oregon State led Arizona 62-61 with 3 seconds remaining in overtime at McKale Center. The Beavers were the reigning West Coast basketball power, 139-38 over the previous six seasons. Arizona was contending for its first-ever Pac-10 championship. In a final timeout, Lute Olson called a “home run” play. A pass of 94 feet from Steve Kerr to the crowd of players near Arizona’s foul-line.
“It works once every 60 times,” UA forward Anthony Cook said after the game.
Cook deflected Kerr’s long pass. It went directly to sophomore guard McMillan. “There was no one in the way,” he said. “There was the basket and nothing else.”
McMillan dribbled twice to the basket and scored. Arizona won 63-62. After Kerr referred to McMillan as “Mr. Clutch,” the shot was labeled “McShot at McKale.” The game effectively flipped the balance of power in the Pac-10; Arizona won its first conference championship five weeks later at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
