VILLANOVA GIVES A SCARE TO NUMBER ONE NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina blocks Villanova's upset attempt
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — The whistle blew in the final seconds just as the ball left the hand of Villanova's Allan Ray. Defender Melvin Scott only hoped his foul came before the basket. Much to Scott's surprise — not to mention Ray and his teammates and coaches — referee Tom O'Neill instead called traveling, leaving North Carolina with possession of the ball and a three-point lead.
"Once they called traveling, I felt like a kid in a candy store, I was so happy," Scott said.
The top-seeded Tar Heels took advantage of the good fortune, holding off the Wildcats 67-66 Friday night to advance to the regional finals for the first time since 2000. (Related item: Game report)
"I thought the ref called the foul, but he called the walk," Ray said. "I feel we should have never put ourselves in that position anyway. I can't say that's the reason we lost, because of that one play."
Following the turnover, fifth-seeded Villanova (24-8) was forced to foul, and Rashad McCants made a free throw with 7.6 seconds left to increase the Tar Heels' margin to four. Kyle Lowry rattled in a three-pointer about 5 seconds later to bring the Wildcats to 67-66, and he chased down Sean May's errant inbounds pass just before the buzzer.
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posted by ADMIN @ Saturday, March 26, 2005
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