As the 3-point shot from the top of the key left Da’Sean Butler’s hand, Lance Stephenson heard him call, “Bank!”
Sure enough, the ball hit the backboard and fell cleanly through the net as time expired, giving No. 7 West Virginia a 54-51 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden and ending the University of Cincinnati’s unlikely run through the Big East tournament.
“I tried my hardest to stop him,” Stephenson said. “He made an incredible move and an incredible shot. I was all over him. I couldn’t do nothing different.”
Moments earlier, UC had the ball out of bounds under the West Virginia basket with 6.4 seconds with the score tied at 51-51 after forcing a shot clock violation, looking for what it hoped would be the game-winning basket.
Deonta Vaughn passed the ball to Dion Dixon near the sideline in front of the West Virginia bench. Dixon, who had just entered the game in place of Ibrahima Thomas, dribbled the ball off his leg out of bounds with 3.1 seconds to go, setting up the final possession for the Mountaineers.
“He just got in a hurry,” said UC coach Mick Cronin. “He turned before he could dribble. He was out of control before he could put it on the floor. I feel bad for him. He’s devastated right now.”
No. 11 seed UC (18-15) will await a likely National Invitation Tournament bid on Sunday night.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100311/SPT0101/303110061/1064/Bearcats++bubble+bursts
Sure enough, the ball hit the backboard and fell cleanly through the net as time expired, giving No. 7 West Virginia a 54-51 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden and ending the University of Cincinnati’s unlikely run through the Big East tournament.
“I tried my hardest to stop him,” Stephenson said. “He made an incredible move and an incredible shot. I was all over him. I couldn’t do nothing different.”
Moments earlier, UC had the ball out of bounds under the West Virginia basket with 6.4 seconds with the score tied at 51-51 after forcing a shot clock violation, looking for what it hoped would be the game-winning basket.
Deonta Vaughn passed the ball to Dion Dixon near the sideline in front of the West Virginia bench. Dixon, who had just entered the game in place of Ibrahima Thomas, dribbled the ball off his leg out of bounds with 3.1 seconds to go, setting up the final possession for the Mountaineers.
“He just got in a hurry,” said UC coach Mick Cronin. “He turned before he could dribble. He was out of control before he could put it on the floor. I feel bad for him. He’s devastated right now.”
No. 11 seed UC (18-15) will await a likely National Invitation Tournament bid on Sunday night.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100311/SPT0101/303110061/1064/Bearcats++bubble+bursts
