1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

The 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the final round of the 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and determined the national champion for the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The game was played on March 30, 1987, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, and featured the Midwest Regional Champion, #1-seeded [1986–87 1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana] and the East Regional Champion, #2-seeded [1986–87 1986–87 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team|Syracuse Orangemen basketball team|Syracuse].
"One Shining Moment", which serves as the closing song for the NCAA Tournament coverage, was played for the first time after this game. It was originally slated to debut after Super Bowl XXI, which also aired on CBS, but was shelved due to player interviews taking up too much time and the network scheduling a primetime show immediately following the game.

Participating teams

Syracuse Orangemen

East
* Syracuse 79, Georgia Southern 73
* Syracuse 104, Western Kentucky 86
* Syracuse 87, Florida 81
* Syracuse 79, North Carolina 75
Final Four
* Syracuse 77, Providence 63

Indiana Hoosiers

Midwest
* Indiana 92, Fairfield 58
* Indiana 107, Auburn 90
* Indiana 88, Duke 82
* Indiana 77, LSU 76
Final Four
* Indiana 97, UNLV 93

Game summary

Syracuse led, 73–72, with 28 seconds remaining, but Derrick Coleman missed the front end of a one-and-one, setting the stage for the game-winner from Keith Smart, who hit a jumper over Howard Triche with four seconds left. By the time Syracuse called timeout to set up a final play, there was one second remaining. A final desperation length-of-the-court pass was intercepted by Smart, who flung the ball into the stands, and the Hoosiers celebrated their national championship win.