Davidson Holds Off Western Carolina in 2OT: Wins SoCon 93-91

What a freaking game. Those of you who stayed up to watch witnessed an absolute nail biter in one of the most dramatic SoCon Championship games in recent memory. Western Carolina jumped out to an early 12-point lead because Davidson was completely incapable of stopping dribble penetration. Then during a stretch spanning the end of the 1st and beginning of the 2nd half, Davidson was able to crawl back. It looked like the aggregate games were starting to get the better of Mutombo and Sumler as both were walking the ball up court, doubling over and bricking shots. So much of the Catamount offense is based on perimeter movement that it was only inevitable that their legs would start to die. Davidson meanwhile pounded the ball inside to Brooks, Cohen and Mann who went beast mode on anyone not name Tawaski King (he had a great game also).

Then with the game firmly in hand, Davidson botched a 10 point lead in the final 2 minutes plus change by turning the ball over off out-of-bounds plays and giving up dumb fouls. To their credit, Cole and Sumler also hit some ridiculous shots to tie the game up. In the both overtimes, the teams traded big shot after big shot. Eventually Mann finally took advantage of WCU's lethargic D and dunked one home to give Davidson their 93rd point. Cole would miss a deep three at the buzzer to seal the Wildcat NCAA Tournament birth.

Really really tough ending for Mutombo (my Tournament MVP) and Sumler. Those guys battled all weekend and never gave up down the stretch tonight against the overwhelming favorite. Both players collapsed to the ground as the buzzer sounded.

More notes from a great game:

• Player of the Year De'Mon Brooks had two isolation attempts to seal the game. Missed them both
• Very uncharacteristic of a McKillop-coached team to give the game away like that in the last two minutes of regulation. 14-2 run by WCU to close out the first 40 minutes
• My boy Michael Czera was big time down the stretch
• Dikembe in the house!
• Best subplot of this game: camera shots of uncomfortable Davidson fans sitting next to Asheville's locals. At more than one time you could see the argyle- wearing, bespectacled Davidson alums looking physically disgusted at the Mucinex boogers sitting next to them  
• Jon Sciambi is my favorite play-by-play man in college basketball. Always happy to cover the mid-majors and always gives the SoCon mad love
• Raise your hand if you knew Tawaski King and Clint Mann had such refined post moves. Liar. 
• Prime example of mental fatigue- WCU's miscommunication on defense leading to all those wide open lanes to the hoop
• Davidson a little too careless with the ball for such an important game
• Somebody please get Davidson's "free throw expert" to come to CofC

And that's all she wrote folks. Davidson is your Southern Conference Men's Basketball Champion