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College B-Ball Legend Dies in Bus Crash

Lorenzo Charles remembered for stunning 1983 victory

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 28, 2011 9:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Lorenzo Emile Charles, the hero of the 1983 NCAA championship game, died yesterday in a bus crash in North Carolina. Charles, who caught and dunked a last-second shot from his NC State Wolfpack teammate to win the title over heavily favored opponents, was alone and driving a charter bus when he apparently lost control and crashed into trees off an exit ramp. Police were still trying to determine the cause of the crash last night, the News & Observer reports.

Charles, 47, played briefly with the Atlanta Hawks and pro teams in Europe after leaving NC State. At the time of his death he was a driver for Elite Tours, and also drove for the Duke lacrosse team. He had recently visited the new NC State basketball coach. "He had a big smile on his face, and he was so full of life," the coach says. "We lost a great one, and I'm not just talking about the basketball player. He had a great personality."

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Emergency personnel work the scene of a bus crash Monday afternoon, June 27, 2011, in Raleigh, NC. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Travis Long)

This April 4, 1983 photo shows North Carolina State's Lorenzo Charles (43) dunking the ball in the basket to give NC State a 54-52 win over Houston in the NCAA Championship game in Albuquerque, NM. (AP Photo/File)

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An overview of Lorenzo Charles' famous dunk. (CBSNCAATourney)

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College B-Ball Legend Dies in Bus Crash

Lorenzo Charles remembered for stunning 1983 victory

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