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Elijah Joiner hits game-winner in first game his father sees him play

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: JAN 22 Memphis at Tulsa

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JANUARY 23: TULSA, OK - JANUARY 22: Tulsa Golden Hurricane Forward Elijah Joiner (3) and Tulsa Golden Hurricane Forward Martins Igbanu (1) celebrateduring a college basketball game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Memphis Tigers on January 22, 2020, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Tulsa, OK. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In one of the most powerful moments we will see this entire college basketball season, Elijah Joiner broke down on the dais on Saturday afternoon talking about the game-winning three that he hit against No. 23 Wichita State:

Joiner’s father was not in his life growing up. They knew who each other were, but they did not have a relationship. It wasn’t until recently that they started trying to get to know each other, to build a father-son relationship.

Saturday was the first time that Joiner knew his father was watching him play, and he happened to drop 22 points, five boards and five assists while hitting a game-winning, buzzer-beating three to beat No. 23 Wichita State and take over sole possession of first-place in the American.

Just awesome.