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Aggies refuse to fold, upset Ohio State at the Big Dance By
Reuben Wadsworth
USU earned its first NCAA tournament victory in 31 years by defeating Ohio State University, 77-68, in overtime, during the first round in Greensboro, N.C., to advance to a showdown with the University of California, Los Angeles at 1:40 p.m. (MST) Saturday. The 9-point margin of victory was the Aggiesı largest of the game after the lead changed eight times in regulation with USU leading by only as many as two. The Buckeyes led 60-56 with one minute left in regulation, but USUıs Tony Brown took control after that, sinking two free throws with 50.5 seconds to go and then double-pumped faked OSU center Ken Johnson for about a 10-footer with 1.8 ticks left on the clock. A long last-second 3-pointer by Buckeye guard Brian Brown was off the mark, sending the game into overtime. During a time out with 8.8 seconds left, USU head coach Stew Morrill said he told Aggie point guard Bernard Rock to penetrate or kick it out to Brown for a 3-pointer. But it didnıt work the way Morrill called it. Brown opted to go for the tie rather than the win at the end of the game because he said he didnıt see an opening from behind the arc. ³I just took it to the key,² he said. ³I figured if I jump faked enough, heıd [Johnson] get up.² The overtime period was all Aggies. USU forward Curtis Bobb took over in the extra five minutes what Tony Brown started at the end of regulation. Bobbıs put back with 3:28 left in the period put the Aggies up 64-62 and a fast break dunk from a Shawn Daniels steal less than forty seconds later pushed the lead to four points, one the Aggies would never relinquish. ³I just kind of broke through the ice [in overtime],² Bobb said. ³This is a really special moment for me,² Rock said. Rock led the Aggies with 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-3 from downtown. It was a far cry from Rockıs performance in last seasonıs only tournament game when he hit a miserable 1-for-7 from the field for two points. That was Rockıs goal all along to perform better. He said he was disappointed after last yearıs showing and it was his goal to do a lot better this year. After trailing, 29-24, at the intermission, Rock tried to pump his team up in the locker room. Rock said he told his team at halftime, ³We can play with these guys.² The two squads played neck and neck throughout the second half. OSU had five-point leads twice at 32-27 and 49-44, while USUıs high point was at 56-54 with 3:30 to go after two Bobb 3-pointers and a Tony Brown layup. USUıs defense gave OSU fits all afternoon. The Aggies forced the Buckeyes into 21 turnovers while only committing five themselves. USU scored 21 points off those turnovers. USU also held OSUıs Johnson to one shot attempt in the second half. Morrill said he was glad to see his team keep OSU out of rhythm in the second half. Tony Brown scored 17 points for the Aggies while Bobb wasnıt far behind with 14. Center Dimitri Jorssen chipped in 11 points to go along with nine rebounds. Daniels had 9. OSU was led by Johnson, who had 14. Other Buckeye double figure scorers were Brent Darby and Sean Connolly who scored 11 apiece and Brian Brown, who had 10. ³Theyıre a terrific team,² Johnson said of USU. ³They were the veteran team.² ³Iım not surprised with how they played,² said OSU coach Jim OıBrien. ³The winıs just awesome,² Tony Brown said.
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