2014 NCAA Tournament: UConn Downs St. Joe’s in Overtime
By Cam Newton
With so many other games tonight being decided far too soon due to massive and unexpected blowouts, it was refreshing to finally watch a game that was close up until the end. It was also extremely exciting to see the tournament’s first overtime game (I don’t consider the First Four as an actual part of the tournament).
I personally am a fan of Phil Martelli and his coaching style. He’s currently playing the same 5-6 guys the entire game. Today, he didn’t make a substitution until the 8:15 mark in the first half. It’s very unique and it ensures his best guys are on the floor.
From the get-go, Saint Joseph’s had the hot hand shooting. Almost immediately, the Hawks came out ready to score and their best player, senior guard Langston Galloway couldn’t be stopped at the beginning, nailing two quick threes. St. Joe’s led UConn by as many as ten points, but relinquished a bit of that lead going into halftime, leading 40-35.
In the second half, the close game continued up until the end and it looked as if St. Joe’s was going to win this one, as they led 70-67 with about forty seconds to go. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Amida Brimah was fouled with 39 seconds left and made his free throw, tying the game.
Ultimately, the game would go to overtime and UConn would prevail by a score of 89-81 because of the fact that they couldn’t miss from the free throw line (even a 57% free throw shooter like Brimah went 3/3) and that the Hawks’s best big man, Halil Kanacevic, fouled out right before overtime.
Unfortunately for college basketball fans, we will not be seeing any more of Phil Martelli’s grandson in the tourney this year. He did make an appearance tonight, though!