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SCARY, INDIANA --
The UCLA Bruins took a hacksaw to the Hackmanesque fairy tale that the Indiana Hoosiers were cooking up on Saturday.
The Hoosiers played like Special Olympians for 20 minutes, scoring only THIRTEEN points before Intermission, to the Bruins' 20. Yes, the Bruins' Defense was the main cause, but Indy got plenty of open shots that just wouldn't fall. And that includes several shots at point blank range.
The Hoosiers finally got going late in the Second Half, after a Darren Collison Three gave the Bruins a 16-point lead. Indy cut it to 10, and it stayed between 10 and 13 for a while, until a 16-3 spurt made it 49-49. Suddenly, the Hoosiers couldn't miss, hitting four threes and about a half a dozen field goals in a row. As Arron Afflalo said after the game, the Bruins didn't show any killer instinct.
But with the score tied in the final minute, Afflalo, despite having a horrible, 2-for-11 day, took it one-on-one. He drew the foul, and calmly sank both free throws. Then Darren Collsion stole the inbounds pass and made two free thows of his own to ice it.
Collison had 15 Points, but none more impressive than two by his back-up Russell Westbrook. Westbrook had the Play of the Game, when he POSTERIZED some poor Hoosier with a driving one-handed dunk. Westbrook appeared to gloat just a bit, and two Hoosiers angrily chest-bumped him away. It wasn't as violent as the Oden foul that SHOULD have been called Intentional and thus would have allowed Xavier to upset Ohio State, but it was enough that it should have drawn a T.
Other reserves again played a role in the victory; Michael Roll once again got the ball rolling by draining a three; Albert Aboya was a monster in the paint, despite severe foul trouble, and James Keefe made a few Freshman mistakes, one that got him yanked from the game. Too bad, beacuse it allowed Ryan Wright a chance to come in and show how valuable Aboya is. One thing about Wright: He gives his all, all the time. It's just not enough to compete with the Nation's best players.
The Bruins played with a lot of heart and desire -- most of the time -- and no two people exemplify that more that Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Lorenzo Mata. Both had productive outings, with Luc snagging TWELVE Boards and 3 Steals, while Mata was splitting eights: That's 8 Points and 8 Rebounds.
The Bruin Big Men will have a tough assignment in the upcoming game against Pitt -- 7-foot Arron Gray. Gray has had a good year. However, against Georgetown in the Big East Tourney, Gray went 0-fer, and the way the Bruins successfully Double Team the opposing Big Men, Gray may have another tough day.
Pitt, of course, is where Ben Howland coached for a few years before he came to UCLA. Pitt's Coach is Ben's protege, who also stresses Defense. So expect another low-scoring affair. Just don't expect less that 13 points in a half.
Below are a couple of Cheer Shots, in honor of the Sweet 16.
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