Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — BYU basketball hasn't had a lot to celebrate this season.
That changed on Tuesday night.
BYU senior guard Craig Cusick rebounded a Matt Carlino miss and in one motion calmly tipped in the game winning shot at the buzzer giving the Cougars a 70-68 victory over Utah State.
He broke the hearts of Aggie fans but anyone with a heart can't help but be happy for Craig.
That game winning shot came just hours after he learned the devastating news that his father Randy has cancer.
That night was a struggle for Craig as he was dealing with the emotions of the diagnosis. Before that magical moment he missed all six shots he had taken during the game. But the steady and reliable walk-on delivered when his team needed him most.
Related:
BYU: Cusick's game-winner reminds us sports more than just a game
Craig Cusick's game winning shot leading BYU over Utah State in a game that had been postponed two months earlier due to Aggie player Danny Berger's near death experience shows once again that sports is way more than just a game."Craig's got ice in his veins. Things don't get to him very easily," said Haws. "That's the type of person he is. He's calm in those situations and he's ready to make a big shot."
When you learn more about Craig Cusick the player the more you understand why he isn't fazed by tough situations and doesn't back down from a challenge.
Craig was a first-team all-state player at Orem high school where he led the Tigers to back-to-back appearances in the 4A state semifinals. He was the top scorer in the state as a senior averaging 22 points per game and is the all-time leading scorer in school history. He once scored 40 points in a game during his senior year.
It wasn't enough to earn a scholarship.
That didn't stop him from pursuing his dream of playing college basketball.
He walked on at the University of Utah and redshirted during the 2006-07 season before serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in London, England.
When he returned he decided to walk-on at BYU but he didn't play a single minute during his first two years with the Cougars.
He finally earned playing time last year as a junior appearing in every game as a back-up point guard. He played an important role in BYU's historic 25-point comeback win over Iona in the NCAA tournament logging a career high 8 assists in that game. He made three 3-point shots against Marquette in the next round of the NCAA Tournament stepping up when other players on the team struggled.
It still wasn't enough to earn a scholarship.
While some players would have given up Cusick returned for his senior year with the same positive attitude. Always ready to play when called upon. Always a steady influence on the court when the team is struggling to find consistency.
He was ready again on Tuesday despite dealing with the most difficult news of his life. It's fitting his greatest basketball moment meant so much to him because he was able to share it with his teammates.
"This is the best one of my life, by far," he said after the game. "This meant a lot for me and I just couldn't be happier that I was able to be a part of this with my team."
It was also a special moment for his father.
Randy Cusick watched the game from his hospital bed. Craig shared during an interview on ESPN's SportsCenter that he visited his father that night after his game-winning shot. Randy coached Craig growing up and taught him how to play the game of basketball. They spent hours together preparing and dreaming for moments like that game-winning shot. They both shed tears together in that hospital room.
"To end the night like that for me, and especially for my dad, was just incredible," Craig shared during the interview. "It was a dream come true."
For those who have received the same news that the Cusick family did on Tuesday you know what they are going through. You know the tough road that lies ahead. But it's clear that they will fight, battle and persevere much like Craig has during his college basketball career.
"My dad is just incredible. I told him and he looked into my eyes and he said he was going to be fine and that he was going to be able to fight through this," Craig said during the ESPN interview. "We appreciate all the prayers and thoughts and support from the fans. We believe my dad will get through it."
