Courtside from Salem with live updates from tonight’s national semifinals.
Friday, March 20, 4:35 p.m.: Twenty-five minutes to go before the opening tip of tonight’s first game. Both teams huddle up and then storm onto the floor for pregame layup drills: Wash U in the green and white, Guilford in the white and crimson. Further updates to come as events warrant… stay tuned.
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Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Two minutes into the first half, we’ve got three fouls (all on F&M) and zero points. Still 26-26, waiting on the first bucket after halftime.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Smith gets things going for the Ospreys, hitting a couple of layups to give the Ospreys a four-point lead. F&M’s defense is still brutally tough inside, though, making it tough for Stockton to keep getting it in to Smith in the paint.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:23 pm
With Bradley on the bench for the Diplomats, Smith has continued to shine in the paint for the Ospreys. He’s 3-for-3 in the half and now has 13 points for the game; Stockton leads by 4 with 15:24 to play, 36-32.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:32 pm
With 11:39 left and the score tied 38-38, F&M’s Mike Baker goes down with an injury — play stops as the trainers attend to the sophomore’s right leg. After about a minute, he limps off the floor and Omar Smith heads to the line to shoot one and one.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Baker checks back in at the 9:28 mark; game tied 42-42. McNally promptly creates an easy layup for himself and puts the Diplomats in front.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:48 pm
F&M goes on a 10-2 run to jump way out in front, but Stockton comes charging back. A couple of layups on the fast break put the Ospreys back in it, and Massaquoi finishes on a beautiful bucket, draws a foul, and completes the three-point play. Massaquoi: 8-for-11, 20 points, 7 rebounds. We’re tied, 52-52.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:49 pm
With 4:20 left, Stockton’s defense falters, leaving Baker wide open for a layup. 54-52 F&M.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:55 pm
A pretty three from the corner by Jerome Hubbard, followed by a steal and a layup from Michael Farrow, makes it 57-56 Stockton! A sudden turn of events to give the Ospreys their first lead in over 10 minutes. F&M ball, down 1, with 1:44 to play. This one could go down to the wire.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Santini Lancioni whistled for a foul, his third. Not a good night for Lancioni: 0-for-10 from the floor, 0-for-6 on threes, three fouls.
Massaquoi then picks up his fourth, and with a minute and a half left, Bradley hits two FTs. F&M back up by a point.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Farrow with the steal and the layup! Stockton reclaims the lead and Glenn Robinson calls timeout for F&M, once again down a point, with 45.7 seconds to play.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:00 pm
With 23 seconds to play, Omar Smith comes away with the biggest steal of his life. McNally fouls Smith with 20 seconds to go — his fourth, the team’s 10th. Stockton is in good shape now.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Smith hits the first shot to make it a two-point game, 60-58. Exactly 20.0 seconds on the clock. Robinson calls a full timeout, leaving one remaining, before the second shot. He’s in the huddle now, drawing up a play for what may be the Diplomats’ final possession.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Smith misses, and Baker and Farrow wrestle for control of the rebound. Held ball — possession arrow to Stockton. This time it’s the Ospreys’ Gerry Matthews who calls the timeout, with 18.7 seconds to play. F&M may have to foul again now.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:05 pm
A scuffle erupts for the ball — no foul, and in danger of a jump ball getting the ball back to F&M, Stockton scrambles and calls timeout. 14.4 seconds to play, no TOs left for Stockton.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:06 pm
With 8.9 seconds left, Milligan finally gets off a foul, putting Smith at the line for two. If he hits these, it might be over.
Author comment by Evans Clinchy · March 20, 2009 at 8:06 pm
He does. 62-58 Stockton. Congrats to the Ospreys — welcome to the title game.