Duke walk-on hits memorable 3-pointer at historic Madison Square Garden on Saturday night

The moment hit as one would expect for walk-on guard Spencer Hubbard of the second-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

On the biggest of college basketball stages at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night he nailed a step-back 3-pointer in Dukes rout of Illinois in the final minute that put the stamp on the 110-67 blowout win.

It was surreal, said Hubbard, who is playing in his graduate season.

It makes it even more memorable in the context of MSG.

I mean, all of the history in that place when it comes to the musicians that have played there and the basketball part of it.

Hubbard, who was awarded a scholarship last year by Coach Jon Scheyer, decided to come back for his final season after graduating with a degree in African American Studies.

His decision to go to graduate school and toil as a practice player again didnt take much thought.

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Spencer Hubbard excited the Madison Square Garden crowd on Saturday night with a 3-pointer late in the game.

The walk-on for the Blue Devils is in his fifth and final season in Durham.

I wanted to come back for my fifth year, and its been great, said Hubbard, a 5 foot 8 guard who is from Los Angeles.

Maybe what made the highlight that much better was the reaction from the bench.

Every one of his teammates and even some of the coaches couldnt help themselves by cheering for Hubbard.

After seeing the highlight and seeing the reaction, Hubbard said its a testament to how close the Blue Devils are as a team.

Just to see the reaction and looking back on it I was a little unconscious and it was kind of a blur, Hubbard said by phone on Sunday night from Durham.

But looking at the video and seeing Tyrese (Proctor) walking up and down the bench and seeing Coop (Cooper Flagg) and the rest of the guys on the bench it was just cool.

All the guys showing support like that really means a lot.

Hubbard came to Duke during the COVID-19 season with no promises from Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

He worked his way up from a practice player to a walk-on and then earned a scholarship for his senior season.

During his career hes played in 23 games for a total of 55 minutes scoring 13 points.

And hes got the Cameron Indoor Stadium crowd going on a few occasions when hes gotten to play in home games, but Saturday night was another level.

After dribbling to the top of the key he went left, dribbled over the 3-point line, but then stepped back over the 3-point line and swished the shot.

I'd like to say I can do that step back in my sleep, but thats not the case, Hubbard said with a laugh.

Last season Hubbard told Conor ONeill, who covers Duke for duke.rivals.com , that he has to walk a fine line in practice because hes there to try and make the Blue Devils a better team.

Hubbard told ONeill that because hes a little older he understands about not crossing the line during a practice.

Definitely a difficult line to straddle, Hubbard told ONeill.

By the reactions of his teammates on Saturday night, however, it appears that Hubbard has gained plenty of respect.

The fact that we compete as hard as we do in practice and everybody is as competitive as they are and we can still sort of infuriate each other but can have moments like Saturday night really shows how special this group is, Hubbard said.

Hubbard, whose mother went to Duke, had a few options coming out of high school but was set on coming to Durham to do whatever he could to help the basketball program.

He was a solid player at Harvard Westlake High School and was a three-year starter for a program that won two conference titles.

I wasnt getting a ton of Division I looks but there was some interest, he said.

I really just loved the game and its been great these last five years.

The 23-year-old Hubbard said his plans are to work in basketball or another sport after college.

He has a good foundation as he worked his way up the ladder in Durham.

As for being around such a talented team that has a shot to win the national championship, Hubbard said its been a lot of fun.

Its a beautiful thing to be able to wake up every day and you either go watch film or do scout-team work, Hubbard said.

Just being around this program and it being my last year Im just trying to soak it all in.

While Hubbard isnt much into social media, he does have the clip of his big 3-pointer on his phone.

Ive got it saved, he said, and it's definitely a keeper.

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