McNeese State Survives in Overtime Thriller, Downs UTSA 78-74
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas -- Merrell Madness indeed.
A McNeese team that had lost four straight entering the tournament
trailed defending champion UTSA by 13 early in the second half and appeared to
be on the way to an early exit until a pair of freshmen -- combined with shaky free
throw shooting from UTSA -- led to another day of play for the Cowboys.
Six free throws in the final 43 seconds allowed the Cowboys to
eliminate the Roadrunners in a 78-74 overtime nail-biter and allowed McNeese
(16-14) to take on UT Arlington in Thursday night's semifinal.
"We weren't ready to go home," said Cowboys coach Dave Simmons.
"We told these guys before the game that if we want to stay here (Thursday),
we've got to win tonight."
Simmons words echoed loudly throughout the second half as McNeese,
which trailed 32-19 early in the second half, used an intense defensive effort
to slowly walk down UTSA (18-14), finally taking their first lead since the
12:01 mark of the first half when Adrian Fields knocked down a 3-pointer to
give them a 57-55 edge with 2:28 left.
It was the only field goal the Cowboys would score in the final
5:30 of regulation, yet they held a 63-60 lead after a pair of Dontae Cannon
free throws with 11 seconds remaining. With their season on the line, UTSA went
to Kannon Burrage, who delivered a 25-foot bomb with six seconds on the clock
to force the extra session.
The Roadrunners might have been able to avoid the loss had their
normally reliable free throw shooting not taken the night off. The nation's
22nd best team from the stripe, UTSA missed 18 of 32 from the line, including a
critical miss from Stephen Franklin late in overtime that would have put UTSA
within two.
"We haven't struggled like this from the free throw line," said
UTSA coach Brooks Thompson. "We are a great free throw shooting team, but
tonight it wasn't there."
Great shooting from the stripe wasn't necessarily there for
McNeese, which missed 16 of their 42 opportunities, but having Cannon -- who
went 10 for 10 -- proved to be the difference.
While senior standout Patrick Richard struggled from the field (4
of 15), he buttressed his night by adding 11 rebounds and seven assists to go
along with his 16 points. Where Richard failed in scoring, the freshmen duo of
Desharick Guidry and Kevin Hardy delivered.
Guidry came off the bench to score 14 points and grabbed nine
rebounds, while Hardy scored eight points and pulled down seven boards.
"I don't consider them as freshmen, because they've logged a lot
of minutes," said Simmons. "I can say they're upperclassmen right now."
Postgame Quotes
McNeese State head coach Dave Simmons
Opening statement...
"I am just glad that we are still
alive and our kids played hard. I thought we brought the fight here and we
weren't ready to go home. We have a heart of champions, and we knew that if we
wanted to play tomorrow, we had to win tonight. It was a tough opponent, and we
knew they are a very good basketball team, and it was a great game. We are just
glad to get the win."
On the team's effort...
"Give UTSA credit. We tried our best
[in the first half], but UTSA did a good job stopping us. But we regrouped in
the second half. This group has been a great second half team. I am just proud
of them because these eight players that are playing are giving us everything
we can ask for as a coach."
McNeese State senior forward Patrick Richard
On moving onto the next round...
"We knew that coming into the game, a
lot of people might have written us off since we lost four in a row after
winning eight straight. But coach always preaches about faith and we just kept
faith. At halftime, we were in the locker room and we said that we didn't want
to go home. Everyone had to step up in a lot of different areas. It isn't about
just one person but about everybody stepping up."
McNeese State junior guard Dontae Cannon
On going 10-for-10 from the free throw line...
"I just knew that I needed to go to
the line and make shots and knock down free throws to keep the lead at three or
four points. I just had to go up there and knock them down."
UTSA head coach Brooks Thompson
Opening statement...
"I feel for our three seniors: Stephen
Franklin, Alex Vouyoukas and Sei Paye. I feel for them for finishing this year
and their career. They have meant a lot to our program. They have won 38 games
in the last two years and done some great things for our team and program.
Obviously, everyone knows that we are all disappointed about tonight. I think everyone
in our locker room is disappointed in our entire season. Even though we won 18
games and 10 games in the conference, we still feel like it is a
disappointment. But on the flip side, to be disappointed with 18 wins means
that we feel like our program is very stable and heading in a more positive
direction."
On team free throw shooting...
"We led the league in free throw
percentage this year. We haven't struggled like this from the free throw line
all season, and we are a great three throw shooting team. Free throws were a
huge part of this loss tonight."