Arkansas Capitalizes On Syracuse Miscue

Midwest

Lawrence Moten made a mental mistake just like the one Chris Webber made two years ago in the NCAA title game, calling a timeout when his team had none remaining.

The gaffe allowed Arkansas to tie the game toward the end of regulation, and the defending national champions went on to beat Syracuse 96-94 in overtime Sunday to advance to the regional semifinals.

With Syracuse leading 82-81, Lucious Jackson stole Arkansas’ inbounds pass and was eventually tied up by Alex Dillard. But Moten called a timeout with 4.3 seconds left - just before Dillard got into the scramble - and a technical foul was called.

“I guess I thought we had one (timeout),” Moten said.

Webber did the same thing with Michigan trailing by a point late in the championship game at New Orleans, a game North Carolina eventually won 77-71.

Scotty Thurman made one of two technical free throws to tie the game 82-82, and Dillard missed a shot at the buzzer after Arkansas got the ball.

Announcers on CBS told a national television audience that Jackson had called the timeout, but it was actually Moten, who was standing away from the ball. CBS did not show a replay.”I thought it was a jump ball, I thought it was a tie-up,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “If nobody has possession of the ball, I don’t know how you can get a timeout.”

If Moten had not called a timeout and the play was ruled a jump ball, Syracuse had the possession arrow.

“We found a way to win,” said Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson.

“Mental mistakes can cost you as well as physical mistakes. I don’t know if the ball was tied up or not. A timeout is a timeout I don’t care whether it’s at the time of the tie-up or not.”

In overtime, Thurman hit a 3-point shot, a 2-point basket and a free throw in the last 2:07.

Michael Lloyd missed a 3-point attempt for Syracuse with 4 seconds left in overtime. Jackson rebounded, but his 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim.Arkansas will play Memphis in the Midwest regional semifinal at Kansas City on Friday.

Arkansas 96, Syracuse 94 (OT)

SYRACUSE (20-10)

Wallace 9-12 10-16 29, Jackson 7-14 3-3 21, Hill 1-3 2-3 4, Lloyd 3-10 3-8 10, Moten 9-18 4-5 27, Reafsnyder 1-3 1-2 3, Burgan 0-0 0-0 0, Sims 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-60 23-37 94.

ARKANSAS (29-6)

Williamson 11-20 3-4 25, Thurman 10-16 2-4 27, Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Beck 2-3 2-2 7, McDaniel 1-5 6-6 9, Robinson 1-4 1-2 3, Garrett 0-0 0-0 0, Rimac 0-2 0-0 0, Stewart 1-3 0-1 2, Dillard 2-4 0-0 5, Wilson 7-9 4-5 18. Totals 35-68 18-24 96.

Halftime-Syracuse 42, Arkansas 39. End of Regulation- Syracuse 82, Arkansas 82. 3-Point goals-Syracuse 11-21 (Moten 5-8, Jackson 4-9, Wallace 1-1, Lloyd 1-3), Arkansas 8-19 (Thurman 5-8, Beck 1-1, McDaniel 1-4, Dillard 1-3, Stewart 0-1, Rimac 0-2). Fouled out-Williamson, McDaniel, Stewart. Rebounds-Syracuse 40 (Wallace 9), Arkansas 35 (Williamson 10). Assists-Syracuse 19 (Lloyd 6), Arkansas 17 (Thurman 5). Total fouls-Syracuse 18, Arkansas 26. Technical-Syracuse bench. A-15,375.

Memphis 75, Purdue 73

David Vaughn hit a put-back with 1.1 seconds left as the Tigers knocked out the Boilermakers (25-7), the Big Ten’s only remaining team.

After taking possession with 32.6 seconds left, the Tigers held for the last shot. Chris Garner sliced toward the basket and released a leaning jumper that ticked off the rim and into the hands of Vaughn, who caught and released the ball in one motion from about 5 feet away.

Purdue attempted to draw a charging foul along the baseline on its final inbounds play, but it was unsuccessful and Matt Waddell’s full-court pass was intercepted by Vaughn as time ran out.

MEMPHIS (24-9)

Henderson 5-11 0-0 11, Wilson 8-11 0-0 16, Wright 4-13 2-4 10, Garner 2-8 0-0 4, Johnson 7-15 0-0 18, Vaughn 5-8 2-2 12, Wimmer 2-5 0-0 4, Mitchell 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 33-71 4-8 75.

PURDUE (25-7)

Jennings 3-6 3-4 9, Martin 4-14 0-0 11, Miller 3-4 3-7 9, Waddell 3-8 4-4 12, Roberts 0-2 1-3 1, Hairston 5-5 4-5 14, Austin 2-3 0-0 5, Brantley 3-6 3-3 9, Foster 1-2 0-0 3, Dove 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 18-26 73.

Halftime-Memphis 41, Purdue 37. 3-Point goals-Memphis 5-11 (Johnson 4-7, Henderson 1-1, Vaughn 0-1, Garner 0-2), Purdue 7-20 (Martin 3-11, Waddell 2-5, Austin 1-1, Foster 1-2, Roberts 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Memphis 37 (Wright 8), Purdue 30 (Roberts 8). Assists-Memphis 16 (Garner, Johnson 4), Purdue 10 (Waddell 6). Total fouls-Memphis 21, Purdue 14. Technicals-Wimmer, Roberts. A-15,375.