Stanford knows its buzzer-beating win was a lucky escape
By Wire services
Published March 6, 2004
PULLMAN, Wash. - Matt Lottich's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer, just steps from the jubilant Stanford bench, gave the top-ranked Cardinal a 63-61 victory over Washington State on Thursday night, its second startling finish in a month.
"I grabbed someone and gave them a hug and said, "We did it again!"' said reserve Dan Grunfeld, who completed a rare four-point play in the closing seconds.
But not long after all the hugs and shouts, coach Mike Montgomery put some perspective on this euphoric ride. He knew his team had escaped and said so in the locker room.
"We need to treat this like a loss a little bit," Montgomery said. "We should not walk away feeling like a million bucks. We probably didn't play up to the level you need to win on the road in this league."
Stanford, on a 26-game winning streak, is dancing on the edge after another close call. On Feb.7, Nick Robinson's running 35-footer as time expired lifted Stanford past Arizona 80-77.
"It's obvious they have something special going for them," Washington State coach Dick Bennett said.
A victory over Washington today gives Stanford the first 18-0 season in Pacific 10 history. It is trying to become the first team to finish undefeated since Indiana in 1976.
Lottich's 3-pointer capped a comeback that began with the Cardinal down by six with a minute left. He also was the man against Arizona when his steal led to Josh Childress' 3-pointer that tied the score.
With Childress having fouled out Thursday, Washington State led 61-56 with 25 seconds left. Grunfeld cut it to one when he was fouled on a 3-pointer from the corner for his only points of the game.
With 17.2 seconds to go, Washington State failed to inbound. Stanford tried to hold the ball for the last shot, but it was knocked away from Chris Hernandez, and a scramble followed. Robinson finally got control and flipped the ball to Lottich.
"We obviously were very lucky at the end," Montgomery said. "I don't know how many times Matt Lottich has made those."
Top 25
NO. 23 UTAH ST. 64, IDAHO 60: Nate Harris had 13 points and seven rebounds as the Aggies clinched a share of the Big West title.
Utah State wins the conference regular-season title if Pacific loses today at home against UC Riverside. A Pacific victory creates co-champions with a coin flip deciding the top seed for the conference tournament. Pacific and Utah State split during the season, each winning at home.
Cardell Butler and Spencer Nelson each had 12 points to help Utah State (25-2, 17-1) reach 25 victories for the fourth time in seven seasons.
C-USA
SAINT LOUIS 72, HOUSTON 69 (OT): Phillip Hunt forced overtime on the putback of a desperation airball at the buzzer and Josh Fisher had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the host Billikens.
Saint Louis had trailed by 20 with 12 minutes left in regulation.
The Billikens rebounded from a 17-point first half - their worst of the season - after coach Brad Soderberg ordered them into a fullcourt press for the first time. The tactic helped Saint Louis climb back from a nine-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, capped by Hunt's basket after Fisher's long heave.
Saint Louis never led until overtime, in which it clinched its regular-season finale at the free-throw line. The Billikens were 8-for-10 at the line in the extra period, and Fisher was 4-for-6 in the final 34 seconds.
SOUTHERN MISS: Coach James Green resigned to end a contentious eighth season for the former Conference USA coach of the year. Green will not coach the team's final regular-season game today against East Carolina. Assistant coach Jeff Norwood takes over on an interim basis. Green led the Golden Eagles to a C-USA regular-season title in 2000-01 and earned league coach of the year. The team went 22-9 and played in the NIT that season. But two losing seasons followed, and the Golden Eagles are 13-13 and 6-9 in C-USA. Green finished 123-109 at the school.
State
B-CC 85, FAMU 83 (OT): Diondre Larmond scored a career-high 25, including all eight of the host Wildcats' points in overtime.
Larmond opened overtime with back-to-back 3-pointers and hit two free throws with 16.1 seconds left to give Bethune-Cookman a four-point lead.
Down 85-81, Florida A&M closed to within two with 5.6 seconds left before fouling Larmond again. After missing the first free throw, Larmond missed the second one intentionally, forcing a desperation, fullcourt shot by DeMarcus Wilkins that wasn't close.
American East
STONY BROOK 65, UMBC 59: D.J. Munir scored 16 to lead the eighth-seeded Seawolves past the ninth-seeded Retrievers in the first round of the tournament in Boston in Maryland-Baltimore County's first game after coach Tom Sullivan was placed on leave. The Retrievers were coached by assistant Randy Monroe. UMBC announced earlier in the day that Sullivan was placed on indefinite paid administrative leave for what the school called a "private personnel issue."
Atlantic Sun
UCF 64, BELMONT 62: Dexter Lyons scored 27, including two clutch free throws as the game came to a close, to lead the Golden Knights in the conference tournament in Nashville. Central Florida faces Troy State, a 63-62 winner over Georgia State, in the championship game today. Josh Bodden added 19 points for the Golden Knights, who rallied from a 34-29 halftime deficit.
Nation
RUPP TEAM: Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson, Stanford forward Josh Childress, Duke guard Chris Duhon, Connecticut center Emeka Okafor and Mississippi State forward Lawrence Roberts were named to the inaugural Adolph Rupp All-America team announced by the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky. A player and coach of the year will be named April1.
NOTRE DAME: Leading rebounder Torin Francis, a sophomore, needs surgery on a herniated disc in his back and will miss the rest of the season.
OKLAHOMA: Starting center Jabahri Brown will miss the rest of the season while facing marijuana charges. He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia Wednesday.
