VCU拿到CAA冠軍之後的下一步就是進軍NCAA,

昨晚(3/19)東區標準時間(EST)十點在費城的Whavocia Center迎戰UCLA.

早在拿到CAA冠軍的隔天,

學校就發出email告訴大家門票是要用登記的方式然後再抽籤,

一張門票要70塊美金~~意思是想要去看還不見得買得到,

而且費城距離我們這要4~5小時的車程,

要去看一場比賽的確要很大的熱情與毅力,

我們這沒辦法去的就只好默默關心~~

於是就到NCAA的網站,發現了有網路直播,

哇~~太棒囉!

http://www.ncaa.com/

點選右邊紅色圈圈的地方(watch live games)就可以看了,

還強調100% free!

點選之後會出現正在比賽的場次(紅色方框中),

滑鼠往右拉是即將比賽的場次,

點選想要看的場次後,

要看的那一場會顯示紅色,

下面的黑色銀幕部份就是現場比賽實況,

傳輸速度一點都不會delay,

完全跟在現場看的氣氛一樣,

不過臨場感就是差那麼一點!

老公說~~UCLA是強隊,

曾經拿過16次的NCAA冠軍,

這~~~~太強了,

VCU會不會一路挨打呢?

剛開始的時候的確是,

不過越到後來~~差距一直在五分以內,

VCU的身高不如UCLA,這是吃虧的地方,光籃板就搶不過了,

反觀UCLA身高不錯,而且球在他們手上的話~~

不論任何角度一出手,都會正中籃框得分,

實在是令人驚嘆!

VCU的3號Eric Maynor是隊伍中的靈魂人物,

幾場比賽看下來,他的表現都很穩定,

得分也不錯~~

下面是取自VCU網站的畫面,

http://www.vcuathletics.com/

標題就是昨晚的午夜之戰VCU以一分之差飲恨.

到最後13秒的時候,比數是VCU64:UCLA65,

球在VCU手上,雙方都勢在必得~~最後進攻主力放在Maynor身上,

UCLA也全力防守這名大將,

就在最後倒數時刻Maynor出手~~~沒進,比賽輸贏成定局,

此時畫面上出現Maynor沮喪的表情以及跟隊友的擁抱,

這時最難過不是觀眾,球員們更是傷心.

今年的比賽只能到此為止了.

下面是取自VCU官網對這場球賽的報導~~

紅字部份就是最後的關鍵時刻.

RAMS PUSH UCLA TO THE BRINK, BUT FALL, 65-64, IN NCAAS
3-19-09
, Pa. – For a brief moment, it began to look like VCU déjà vu.

Ultimately, Virginia Commonwealth University was unable to pull off another stunning NCAA Tournament upset, dropping a 65-64 heartbreaker to UCLA Thursday before 17,140 at the Wachovia Center.

VCU senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.) scored a game-high 21 points, but his 18-foot fade-away jumper fell short as time expired. Two years ago, Maynor hit a 16-foot jump shot with 1.8 seconds left to beat Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Maynor added seven assists and six rebounds, while sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) registered his 11th double-double of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Rams (24-10). Freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) chipped in with 10 points and junior T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C.) added eight points and five boards off the bench.

Josh Shipp led five UCLA players in double figures with 16 points. Jrue Holiday threw in 13 points and six assists and Nikola Dragovic added 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The sixth-seeded Bruins (26-8) advance to face Villanova in the second round on Saturday, March 21. VCU, the No. 11 seed, has completed its season.

The Rams trailed by 11 at 55-44 with 8:04 remaining, but fought their way back into the game.

Maynor and sophomore Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla.) combined for an 8-0 run, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to pull VCU within 61-58 with 3:17 on the clock.

After the teams traded baskets, Maynor hit two free throws with 48.0 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 65-64.

On the ensuing UCLA possession, Sanders rejected a Collison layup attempt, which led to a shot-clock violation with 13.0 seconds left.

VCU had to go the length of the floor, and the Bruins pressured Maynor the entire way. With time winding down, Maynor drove left, stopped and pump-faked twice before letting go of his final shot.

Thursday’s loss brings a conclusion to the collegiate career of arguably the greatest player to wear a VCU uniform.

Maynor finishes as the Rams all-time leader in points (1,953), assists (674) and games played (130). A two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, his jersey has already been retired by VCU.