Jodie Meeks got his redemption in just a matter of seconds. After committing what seemed to be a crucial turnover and foul, Meeks hit the game-winning shot to give the Cats a 65-63 win over Creighton in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.

It was supposed to be a routine play. Just a simple handoff from two players that have started the 25 games of the season together. Junior Michael Porter went to hand the ball off to fellow junior Jodie Meeks, when Justin Carter poked his hand in and knocked the ball away with 36.4 seconds left. Meeks quickly fouled Carter, who missed both free throws, giving the Cats (22-13, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) the ball trailing 63-62.

Sophomore Patrick Patterson cleared the lane and made sure only his hands would be on the ball, as he grabbed his seventh rebound of the contest.

That’s when it happened.

Meeks made up for his mistake. He drove by Creighton’s P’Allen Stinnett and into the lane where he glided to the side of Carter. This time, it was Carter who fouled Meeks. And it was this time where Meeks made the basket and the free throw with just 10 seconds remaining.

With a chance to send the game to overtime with one bucket, the Blue Jays (27-8, 14-4 Missouri Valley Conference) opted to go for a 3-pointer, to send them to South Bend, Ind., and into the third round against Notre Dame. However, Booker Woodfox, who had 18 points on three 3-pointers, missed off the rim. And after Meeks grabbed the rebound, it was the Cats packing their bags for the Fighting Irish instead of the top-seeded Blue Jays.

The game-winning rebound and play summed up the last six minutes for the Cats when no one but Meeks and Patterson were able to put the ball in the net. Patterson scored six straight points to keep the score tied at 60, before Meeks tallied the last five. It wasn’t easy for the two-headed monster however though, as Patterson was forced to the bench with two early first-half fouls and Meeks had only three points at half.

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