On the surface, Davis’ shot was just another late-game, heart-breaking miss that any player would have felt helpless about. Only Davis’ shot had much greater meaning to it – it was a moment where life intersected with basketball.

“I just wanted to make that. My grandmother died yesterday and I really just wanted to win that game for her,” Davis said as his lip quivered and his eyes glossed over.

Trailing 75-73 with two seconds left, Massachusetts basketball coach Derek Kellogg drew up one final play to get his sharpshooter an open look. Cady Lalanne inbounded the ball on the far end of the court, made a baseball-style pass to Maxie Esho, who caught and made a chest-pass to an open Davis on the wing.

“I knew that shot was coming to me. I just wanted to make that for her. I thought she was going to let it bounce in, but when I looked up it didn’t go in,” Davis said of his grandmother, Lila Ford.

When the shot left his hands, collectively the sold out crowd of 2,195 watched as it had the makings of being a shot that would have gone down as one of the most exciting shots of Davis’ career. Davis had a clean look at the rim, only to have it bounce around the rim twice before falling to the hardwood floor.

“I thought it was good, honestly, when he shot it. Our whole team, when we were in the locker room, we all said that we thought it was going in,” Derrick Gordon said.

“(The final play) was designed to get him a shot and go up one point on the road. I like to go for it. I have confidence in him,” Kellogg said. “I thought the last shot was definitely in. I didn’t even bat eye. I’m like ‘Alright, we won.’ Then it missed and you kind blink a few times and move on.”

Davis has struggled to find his shot since scoring a career-high 28 points in the season opener against Siena on Nov. 14. He entered the game shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 27.3 percent form behind the 3-point line.

Prior to his first 3-pointer 2:22 into the game, Davis had missed his past nine attempts dating back to the second half against Notre Dame.

Davis’ only other 3-point game with 7:21 remaining in the first half when he hit a shot that would have been deep for even the best shooters in the NBA. He finished with 13 points and three assists on the afternoon in 30 minutes played.

“It’s definitely going to help us,” Davis said of the loss. “We were up eight or nine (points) about three or four times and we let that game slip. It’s just a learning experience for all of us, and the younger guys. Hopefully we won’t let that happen again.”

Following the game, former UMass player Sampson Carter embraced Davis after shaking his hand and offering words of encouragement. It was Carter who hit a game-winner the last time the Minutemen and Crimson played on Nov. 13, 2012 in a 67-64 UMass win at Mullins Center.

Davis took in the moment and slowly shook his head.

“I just wanted it to go in,” he said.

Andrew Cyr can be reached at [email protected], and can be followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.