Best games of the year you likely didn’t see

New Mexico couldn't put Nevada away. Up 25 points at one point in the second half, the Lobos still held a 14-point lead with 1:03 left in the second half. Nevada came roaring back to tie the game and won 105-104 on a Jordan Caroline three-point shot with two seconds remaining.

It wasn't the most intriguing game on paper, but the matchup between the Hawks and Knicks turned into one of the 2016-17 season's best games. Carmelo Anthony scored 46 points, but it wasn't enough to beat Atlanta. Paul Millsap had 37 points and 19 rebounds in the 142-139 win.

Cal State Bakersfield got more than it bargained for in a four-overtime WAC semifinal win over Utah Valley. The game was close the entire way, and in a clear display of exhaustion, neither team scored in the final 1:23 of the final overtime in a 81-80 final. Bakersfield failed to rebound from the long game, losing to New Mexico State in the tournament final before advancing to the semifinals of the NIT.

If you enjoy high-quality pitching, the 18-inning pitchers' duel between the Yankees and Cubs was a sight to behold. There were a record-breaking 44 strikeouts in the game, and it was the first MLB game in history in which both teams fanned at least 21 times. The game also featured exciting offense, as the Yankees scored in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 4-1 lead before the Cubs scored three runs off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth to tie the game 4-4. The next run didn't come until the 18th inning.

You probably heard about the biggest upset in college football history, a 43-40 win by Howard at UNLV as 45-point underdogs, but did you see the entire game? Cam Newton's younger brother, Caylin, rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bison to an upset for the ages in the first game of the year for both teams.

The longest game of the MLB season isn't always a recipe for excitement, but there was quite a bit of tension in this September matchup between Boston and Toronto. A blown save by Roberto Osuna in the ninth inning created a 2-2 tie. The game wasn't decided until a Hanley Ramirez RBI single. The teams combined to use 19 pitchers, coincidentally.

Unless you live in Iowa, you probably missed one of the best matchups in the history of Iowa vs. Iowa State. The rivals were deadlocked at 38 at the end of regulation. After the Cyclones settled for a field goal in the first overtime, Iowa won on a five-yard touchdown. Hawkeyes quarterback Nathan Stanley starred with 333 passing yards and five touchdowns.

One of the wildest games of the college football season featured a 54-51 win by Toledo over Tulsa on a last-second field goal. Toledo got 458 passing yards and six touchdowns out of Logan Woodside, while Tulsa ran for 423 yards and six touchdowns with three 130-plus yard runners.

In a football game that defied belief, Western Michigan and Buffalo needed seven overtimes to decide a winner after being tied 31-31 at the end of the fourth quarter. Buffalo quarterback Drew Anderson threw for 597 yards and seven touchdowns, but Broncos running back Jarvion Franklin made the difference with a game-winning rushing touchdown, his third of the game, to win 71-68.

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate put himself on the national radar in early October, even if few people saw his record-breaking performance. He rushed for 327 yards against the Buffaloes, the most in history in an FBS game by a quarterback, averaging 23.4 yards per carry. Despite Colorado's late push, Arizona won the game.

Who doesn't love an NFL shootout? The Lions and Saints certainly had that in Week 6 in an otherwise unassuming early afternoon game. New Orleans won 52-38, with the teams combining for more than 700 yards of offense.

The Rams-Saints matchup got most of the headlines in the Nov. 26 late afternoon slate, but Arizona's stunning win over Jacksonville made bigger headlines. Led by No. 3 quarterback Blaine Gabbert, the Cardinals drove down the field late in the game, and veteran kicker Phil Dawson made a 57-yard game-winning field goal in a 27-24 victory.

The only triple-overtime game of the early 2017-18 season was UNC Greensboro's 76-75 win over Liberty. Francis Alonso starred with 36 points, including the game-winning shot with 2.4 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma freshman Trae Young is a front-runner for the Wooden Award, and when we look back on his 2017-18 season, his unbelievable performance vs. Northwestern State will likely stick out. He tied the NCAA Division I assists record with 22 and added 26 points in a 105-68 win. The game wasn't exactly competitive, but Young's rare performance made it a can't-miss that you likely did.

You probably heard about Wofford's shocking upset at Chapel Hill, but chances are you missed the game. The Tar Heels were more than 25-point favorites, but a deliberate Wofford squard spearheaded by junior Fletcher Magee led for the entire second half and won 79-75.