Pulsating Win Gives U. Tourney Title
Shaun Green saved the best for last in his remarkable career.
The senior forward poked the ball away from San Diego State's Richie Williams with time winding down in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference tournament, allowing the Utes to escape with a dramatic 52-50 victory, their first tourney victory in five years and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
It also gave coach Jim Boylen a chance to mention me in his post-game television interview, noting how I teased him last week that he should have cut down only a third of the net after sharing the regular-season league championship with two other teams.
"I got the whole thing, now," he said.
And boy, he earned it.
Williams had just hit three straight jumpers -- the last two, three-pointers -- to cut the lead to 51-50, and Utah's Lawrence Borha missed the second of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left. San Diego State's Ryan Amoroso rebounded and passed ahead to Williams, who raced up the court looking for a potential game-tying shot.
But Green's salvation swipe kept him from ever attempting it, and brought red-clad fans streaming onto the court to celebrate with the players.
"Awesome win, man," Boylen said on the post-game radio broadcast, with tears in his eyes.
While center Luke Nevill secured tournament Most Valuable Player honors by scoring 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, the Utes smothered the Aztecs after halftime the same way they did last month back home. The Aztecs scored only 30 points in the second half before Williams' threatening flurry, and shot 39 percent.
Borha added 12 points and Carlon Brown had 10 for the Utes, who improved to 24-9 and probably can expect at least a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, now that they have beaten a team in the Top 50 of the Ratings Percentage Index away from home. They had lost all four previous attempts.
The senior forward poked the ball away from San Diego State's Richie Williams with time winding down in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference tournament, allowing the Utes to escape with a dramatic 52-50 victory, their first tourney victory in five years and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
It also gave coach Jim Boylen a chance to mention me in his post-game television interview, noting how I teased him last week that he should have cut down only a third of the net after sharing the regular-season league championship with two other teams.
"I got the whole thing, now," he said.
And boy, he earned it.
Williams had just hit three straight jumpers -- the last two, three-pointers -- to cut the lead to 51-50, and Utah's Lawrence Borha missed the second of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left. San Diego State's Ryan Amoroso rebounded and passed ahead to Williams, who raced up the court looking for a potential game-tying shot.
But Green's salvation swipe kept him from ever attempting it, and brought red-clad fans streaming onto the court to celebrate with the players.
"Awesome win, man," Boylen said on the post-game radio broadcast, with tears in his eyes.
While center Luke Nevill secured tournament Most Valuable Player honors by scoring 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, the Utes smothered the Aztecs after halftime the same way they did last month back home. The Aztecs scored only 30 points in the second half before Williams' threatening flurry, and shot 39 percent.
Borha added 12 points and Carlon Brown had 10 for the Utes, who improved to 24-9 and probably can expect at least a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, now that they have beaten a team in the Top 50 of the Ratings Percentage Index away from home. They had lost all four previous attempts.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 7:20 PM |
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