Detailing the Thriller
Took awhile, but I did want to detail the Falcon thriller from Sunday. It was a great day to be a Falcon fan, and I only wish more people than 1,200 could be in AA to see this kind of exciting college basketball.
Things were great in the first half as BG went up 16 (34-18) with 6:18 left to play in the first half. Then, however, Buffalo went on a 48-21 run over the next 18 minutes to take an 11 point lead. Frankly, there is no other word except to say "dreadful" to describe that run.
So, there's 8:02 left at that point, with Buffalo up 66-55. With 4:48 left, Buffalo was still up 11, following a bullshit intentional foul on Martin Samarco led to a 4 point play. So, Bulls up 70-59.
BG then preceded to win the next 12 points in the game. Martin had the next 6, Nate Miller hit a fastbreak layup off a steal, and Dusan hit 2 FTs, and we're down 1. Then, we get another steal, and Sims nails a layup and we lead (1). Unfortunately, Eric Moore hit a 3 and Buffalo was up 2 again with :38 left.
Cue the crazy ending. BG calls time. Dribbles to half court, farts around up top with the ball and calls timeout again with :26 left. BG again tries to set up a shot, but nothing is open--Buffalo is quick and defends really well. Samarco is stuck in the right corner, and flings it cross court to the other corner where Guerin saves it by bouncing it off a defender--very heads up play.
Still, we're inbounding in the corner. 3 on the shot clock, 5 in the game (about). Samarco gets the pass. Pinned in the corner. Nowhere to go with the ball, defender draped all over him. He steps back, for a falling away jumper from the fourth row of the stands and hits absolutely nothing but f***ing net. The man can just plain shoot. Shot falls as the buzzer sounds (Todd Walker audio here).
The shot clock buzzer....not the game buzzer.
Pandemonium breaks out. Maybe a little too much. Fans on the floor, players off the bench. Buffalo, rather than calling a timeout, chucks the ball the length of the court. Luckily, it goes off the end line, because we had no one back, and its a layup if the guy catches it.
What ensued was a long official meeting reminisecnt of the 1972 Olympics. They decided we would inbound under Buffalo's basket. We get fouled before we inbound the ball, and Nate Miller misses both free throws. So, Buffalo still only needs a hoop. For once, we covered the inbound, and they ended up just chucking the ball into the middle of the court, and that was the game.
What a day. Martin Samarco ended up with 43 points, hitting 7 of 12 from the 3 point line. He was only the third player in Falcon history to ever hit 40 in Anderson Arena.
He was helped by Nate Miller with 13 points and five boards, and Brian Guerin with 10 points and 10 assists (this kid is a hell of a find. Moten didn't have his shot tonight, and Guerin just slid right in).
A couple other guys made some big contributions. Otis Polk had a huge blocked shot late that helped turn things around, and Brandon Bland was the only player we had who slowed down Eric Moore, who scored 35 points on 11-16 from behind the arc. His defense helped us set up that 12-0 run near the end. As Coach said, he was the only guy who got that we had to stay with Clark.
On the key indicators, Buffalo only shot about 43% for the game, made 18 turnovers and 18 fouls. BG shot 54%, with 13 turnovers, and 19 fouls.
So, you no doubt read my comments before the game...I was worried. We still don't know how good we are, but we know a little more, and there is reason for hope. You're only as good as your last game, but I am beginning to think this team might really be able to stay with teams in the MAC.
Remember, this was played without Marschall and Hamblet. I just think we might finally be turning the corner.
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