The basketball world watched as Nebraska star Keisei Tominaga ended his college career in tears after the Cornhuskers’ NCAA Tournament loss to Texas A&M. He couldn’t really go out like that, could he?
Tominaga was back to his old self on Thursday night, winning the college 3-point contest in a way only he could.
The sharpshooter drilled shots so quickly that he had time left on the clock during each of his three rounds, and he used that extra time to put on a show for the crowd. Tominaga paused his routine, waited until the final second approached, and put up a shot at the buzzer each time — even when the contest was on the line.
Here’s a deeper look at Tominaga’s outstanding 3-point contest victory over some of college basketball’s top shooters.
MORE: Results from college slam dunk contest
Keisei Tominaga wins 3-point contest
Tominaga beat out Hofstra’s Tyler Thomas in the final round, posting 19 points. It was his lowest total of the night.
The real fun began in the first round, when Tominaga allowed a few seconds to tick off the clock, put up his final ball just before the buzzer sounded, and turned around to the crowd (and camera) before it even went in, Steph Curry style. Tominaga led all participants with 25 points in the first round.
Nebraska’s Kesei Tominaga with the cockiest 3 Point Contest final shot of ALL TIME pic.twitter.com/YQ7nieJ57o
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 5, 2024
The same scenario played out in the second round, but this time Tominaga’s buzzer-beater decided whether or not he advanced. The shot went in, giving Tominaga 24 points to Jamison Battle’s 23 and setting up a finals battle with Thomas.
Keisei Tominaga just loves putting on a show pic.twitter.com/TJymLWrmlF
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 5, 2024
While both shooters might have been a bit fatigued by the final round, Tominaga heated up toward the end and pulled ahead with one ball still remaining to end his college career with a bang.
🐐🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/9q1mfsxJxy
— Nebraska Men’s Basketball (@HuskerMBB) April 5, 2024
Tominaga shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc this past season, after shooting a career-high 40 percent from 3-point range in 2022-23. Outside shooting made Tominaga a star with the Cornhuskers, and it gave him one more moment to savor on Thursday night.
Elsewhere, March Madness sensation Jack Gohlke underwhelmed by putting up the second-lowest score of the first round and failing to advance. Gohlke will gladly take the NCAA Tournament win over Kentucky instead, but Tominaga gave fans a glimpse of who else could’ve been a viral star if a few more shots fell for Nebraska against Texas A&M.
College 3-point contest results
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Finals |
| Jamison Battle | Ohio State | 23 | 23 | N/A |
| Boo Buie | Northwestern | 19 | 22 | N/A |
| Boogie Ellis | USC | 17 | N/A | N/A |
| Jack Gohlke | Oakland | 16 | N/A | N/A |
| Quincy Olivari | Xavier | 14 | N/A | N/A |
| Antonio Reeves | Kentucky | 19 | N/A | N/A |
| Tyler Thomas | Hofstra | 20 | 26 | 17 |
| Keisei Tominaga | Nebraska | 25 | 24 | 19 |
