Johnson's intuition puts Miami in Wooden title game
AP
Nov 24, 2018
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) Zach Johnson had a hunch his services would be needed one last time so the senior guard crashed the offensive backboard in the closing seconds for a dramatic put-back dunk that helped Miami advance to the championship game of the Wooden Legacy Tournament.
Johnson's emphatic putback with 0.2 seconds remaining off a Chris Lykes miss was the last of his game-high 24 points off the bench as Miami held off Fresno State Bulldogs 78-76 Friday night in a semifinal game of the tournament.
''I thought Chris had a great look,'' Johnson said. ''There was about six or eight seconds left and I knew that our best chance to win, if he missed it, was to get on the offensive board. I took off, the ball just bounced my way and I put it back in.''
The Hurricanes (5-0) will face the Seton Hall in Sunday's tournament championship game.
Lykes, a sophomore guard, added 17 points, avoided injury when he crashed head-first into a media table behind the Hurricanes' basket late in the game. Dejan Vasiljevic added 12 for the Hurricanes.
Lykes and Vasiljevic have scored in double figures in every game for Miami this season.
Braxton Huggins scored 28 points for Fresno State (2-2), while Deshon Taylor added 25.
Huggins' 20 first-half points were tied for second-most in a half in the tournament's history. But he was watching from the bench when Johnson threw down his game-winning dunk, having fouled out late in the game.
''That possession wasn't the one that made us lose the game,'' Huggins said about Johnson's heroics. ''Throughout the game we had silly turnovers, we had pick-and-roll issues and our defense wasn't that good. We have to get back and work on that, watch some film.''
Fresno State lost despite a 43-29 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs also turned the ball over 20 times to Miami's 11.
For the second consecutive game in the tournament, Fresno State relied heavily on its bench. The Bulldogs got 74 of their 76 points from their starters after getting 69 of their 78 points from the starters in Thursday's victory over Northwestern.
The Bulldogs will face Hawaii in Sunday's third-place game.
SETON HALL 64, HAWAII 54
Seton Hall junior guard Myles Powell had to work hard for everything he got on the night reached the 1,000-point plateau.
Powell scored a game-high 19 points after he was held to single digits midway through the second half as the Pirates (3-2) advanced to the championship game of the Wooden Legacy tournament where they will face Miami. Seton Hall is 15-8 all-time against the Hurricanes.
''He's got a ton of heart and he's not going to lose confidence,'' Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard said of Powell. ''He's going to keep shooting shots and he's going to keep taking tough ones. He's our workhorse and as he goes, we go.''
Powell was coming off a 40-point performance in the tournament semifinal Thursday against Grand Canyon. He also entered with an average of 27.5 points per game. His layup and two free throws aided a 12-0 Seton Hall run in the second half put the Pirates on top for good.
Sheriff Drammeh scored 14 points for Hawaii (4-2) topping the combined 13 he scored in the two previous games he played this season. Drammeh's defense was instrumental in keeping Powell in check for most of the game.
Eddie Stansbury also scored 14 points for Hawaii.
NORTHWESTERN 91 LA SALLE 74
Facing a trapping defense for the second time in a 24-hour stretch was not Northwestern's ideal scenario, yet it ended up helping the Wildcats to a high-energy start in the consolation-bracket victory.
A 17-3 first-half run gave Northwestern an early 25-10 lead and the Wildcats never looked back on their way to the fifth-place game where they will face Utah.
''Those games aren't easy when teams are scattered and trapping everything for the whole game,'' Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. ''I thought we got a little tired in the last few minutes of the game which led to some turnovers but overall I'm really pleased with the quick turnaround. Playing against a scrappy La Salle team, this was a good win for us.
Ryan Taylor and Vic Law each scored 21 points for Northwestern.
A.J. Turner added 20 points for the Wildcats (4-1).
Pookie Powell had 23 points for La Salle (0-6), one game after his streak of 10-consecutive double-digit games ended. Miles Brookins added 12 points for the Explorers, while Jared Kimbrough had 10.
UTAH 75, GRAND CANYON 66
Needing to halt Grand Canyon's second-half charge, Utah changed its defense and ultimately propelled itself into the tournament's fifth-place game against Northwestern.
Once holding a 16-point lead in the first half, the Utes saw their advantage slip to a single point midway through the second half. A switch from man-to-man defense to zone, as a suggestion from assistant coach Andy Hill, was the momentum change Utah needed.
''I'm not sure what he saw in that situation, but with 9:22 left he said to switch to a zone,'' Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak said. ''We had a hard time guarding them in the post. We kept sending them to the foul line and we thought that zone would maybe take them out of that process. I thought we did a nice job.''
Senior guard Sedrick Barefield scored 26 points for Utah (3-2), 18 in the second half, and sophomore forward Donnie Tillman added 14.
Sophomore forward Alessandro Lever scored 16 points and freshman guard Tim Finke added 14 for Grand Canyon (3-3), which fell to 0-3 all-time against Utah and to 0-5 all-time against Pac-12 opponents.
Utah outrebounded Grand Canyon 31-24 to earn the victory. Barefield scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half, hitting three of his four 3-pointers after halftime.
Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
MIA
Hurricanes
37
FRES
Bulldogs
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Miami (Fla.)
19:35
Sam Waardenburg missed layup
19:35
Offensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
19:35
Chris Lykes missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:33
Defensive rebound by Sam Bittner
19:10
+2
Deshon Taylor made jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
0-2
18:51
Lost ball turnover on Chris Lykes, stolen by Deshon Taylor
18:30
+2
Deshon Taylor made layup
0-4
18:30
Lost ball turnover on Chris Lykes, stolen by Deshon Taylor
18:30
Nate Grimes missed jump shot
18:28
Defensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
18:06
Shooting foul on Sam Bittner
18:06
+1
Sam Waardenburg made 1st of 2 free throws
1-4
18:06
Sam Waardenburg missed 2nd of 2 free throws
18:06
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
17:49
+2
Braxton Huggins made layup, assist by Deshon Taylor
1-6
17:27
Lost ball turnover on Anthony Lawrence II, stolen by New Williams
17:19
Nate Grimes missed layup
17:17
Defensive rebound by Sam Waardenburg
17:04
+2
Chris Lykes made layup
3-6
16:47
Traveling violation turnover on Deshon Taylor
16:47
Chris Lykes missed jump shot
16:45
Offensive rebound by Dejan Vasiljevic
16:36
+3
Dejan Vasiljevic made 3-pt. jump shot
6-6
16:19
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:17
Defensive rebound by Sam Waardenburg
16:06
Dejan Vasiljevic missed jump shot
16:04
Defensive rebound by Fresno State
15:40
+2
Sam Bittner made layup
6-8
15:10
Dejan Vasiljevic missed jump shot
15:08
Defensive rebound by Braxton Huggins
14:54
Shooting foul on Ebuka Izundu
14:54
+1
Christian Gray made 1st of 2 free throws
6-9
14:54
Christian Gray missed 2nd of 2 free throws
14:54
Defensive rebound by Anthony Lawrence II
14:44
+2
Zach Johnson made layup
8-9
14:36
Personal foul on Ebuka Izundu
14:36
+1
Christian Gray made 1st of 2 free throws
8-10
14:36
Christian Gray missed 2nd of 2 free throws
14:36
Defensive rebound by Anthony Lawrence II
14:14
Shooting foul on Aguir Agau
14:14
+1
Sam Waardenburg made 1st of 2 free throws
9-10
14:14
+1
Sam Waardenburg made 2nd of 2 free throws
10-10
14:03
Bad pass turnover on Deshon Taylor
13:51
Dejan Vasiljevic missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:49
Defensive rebound by Fresno State
13:49
Personal foul on Sam Waardenburg
13:49
Out of bounds turnover on Noah Blackwell
13:47
Zach Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:46
Defensive rebound by Christian Gray
13:39
Bad pass turnover on Noah Blackwell, stolen by Zach Johnson
13:17
+2
Zach Johnson made layup, assist by Dejan Vasiljevic
12-10
13:00
Lost ball turnover on Aguir Agau
12:54
Personal foul on Noah Blackwell
12:52
Double dribble turnover on Chris Lykes
11:59
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:57
Defensive rebound by Chris Lykes
11:47
Personal foul on Deshon Taylor
11:47
Dejan Vasiljevic missed layup, blocked by Nate Grimes
11:47
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
11:46
Braxton Huggins missed layup
11:46
Defensive rebound by Zach Johnson
11:46
+3
Dejan Vasiljevic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Chris Lykes
15-10
11:28
Bad pass turnover on New Williams, stolen by Zach Johnson
11:17
Zach Johnson missed layup
11:15
Defensive rebound by Braxton Huggins
11:15
Personal foul on Anthony Lawrence II
11:06
+2
Braxton Huggins made layup, assist by Nate Grimes
15-12
11:06
Shooting foul on Anthony Mack
11:06
+1
Braxton Huggins made free throw
15-13
10:52
+3
Chris Lykes made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Anthony Mack
18-13
10:38
Offensive foul on Noah Blackwell
10:38
Turnover on Noah Blackwell
10:38
Traveling violation turnover on Anthony Lawrence II
10:20
+2
Braxton Huggins made jump shot
18-15
10:01
+2
Zach Johnson made layup
20-15
9:43
+2
Deshon Taylor made layup
20-17
9:35
Shooting foul on Deshon Taylor
9:35
+1
Chris Lykes made 1st of 2 free throws
21-17
9:35
Chris Lykes missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:35
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
9:26
Personal foul on Sam Waardenburg
9:14
Noah Blackwell missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:12
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
9:00
Noah Blackwell missed layup
8:58
Offensive rebound by Fresno State
8:56
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
21-20
8:40
Backcourt turnover on Anthony Lawrence II
8:36
Personal foul on Anthony Lawrence II
8:36
+1
Braxton Huggins made 1st of 2 free throws
21-21
8:36
+1
Braxton Huggins made 2nd of 2 free throws
21-22
8:25
Zach Johnson missed layup
8:23
Defensive rebound by Braxton Huggins
8:18
Braxton Huggins missed layup
8:16
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
8:08
+2
Nate Grimes made dunk, assist by Deshon Taylor
21-24
7:47
+2
Chris Lykes made layup
23-24
7:41
Personal foul on Chris Lykes
7:41
Deshon Taylor missed free throw
7:41
Defensive rebound by Dejan Vasiljevic
7:26
Anthony Mack missed jump shot, blocked by Nate Grimes
7:24
Defensive rebound by Deshon Taylor
7:14
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:12
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
7:07
+2
Braxton Huggins made layup, assist by Sam Bittner
23-26
6:48
Chris Lykes missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:46
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
6:37
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Noah Blackwell
23-28
6:04
+2
Zach Johnson made jump shot
25-28
5:51
Shooting foul on Deng Gak
5:51
+1
Deshon Taylor made 1st of 2 free throws
25-29
5:51
+1
Deshon Taylor made 2nd of 2 free throws
25-30
5:36
+2
Sam Waardenburg made jump shot
27-30
5:36
Shooting foul on New Williams
5:36
+1
Sam Waardenburg made free throw
28-30
5:11
Out of bounds turnover on Aguir Agau
4:51
Personal foul on Johnny McWilliams
4:51
+1
Zach Johnson made 1st of 2 free throws
29-30
4:51
+1
Zach Johnson made 2nd of 2 free throws
30-30
4:36
Offensive foul on Braxton Huggins
4:36
Turnover on Braxton Huggins
4:17
Chris Lykes missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:15
Defensive rebound by New Williams
4:07
New Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:05
Defensive rebound by Sam Waardenburg
3:54
+3
Zach Johnson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Deng Gak
33-30
3:37
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Johnny McWilliams
33-33
3:23
Chris Lykes missed jump shot
3:21
Defensive rebound by Johnny McWilliams
3:13
+3
Deshon Taylor made 3-pt. jump shot
33-36
2:44
+2
Deng Gak made dunk, assist by Zach Johnson
35-36
2:22
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Deshon Taylor
35-39
1:48
Sam Waardenburg missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:46
Defensive rebound by New Williams
1:35
Traveling violation turnover on Lazaro Rojas
1:16
Dejan Vasiljevic missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:14
Offensive rebound by Deng Gak
1:05
Zach Johnson missed layup
1:03
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
49.0
Lost ball turnover on Noah Blackwell, stolen by Chris Lykes
42.0
+2
Zach Johnson made layup, assist by Chris Lykes
37-39
28.0
+2
Nate Grimes made jump shot
37-41
2.0
Zach Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot
0.0
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
2nd Half
MIA
Hurricanes
41
FRES
Bulldogs
35
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
Braxton Huggins missed jump shot
19:43
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
19:31
Nate Grimes missed layup
19:29
Defensive rebound by Dejan Vasiljevic
19:15
+2
Ebuka Izundu made layup, assist by Anthony Lawrence II
39-41
19:00
Personal foul on Zach Johnson
18:48
Braxton Huggins missed jump shot
18:46
Offensive rebound by New Williams
18:30
Nate Grimes missed jump shot
18:28
Offensive rebound by Braxton Huggins
18:20
Braxton Huggins missed layup
18:18
Defensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
18:13
+2
Chris Lykes made layup
41-41
18:07
Deshon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:05
Defensive rebound by Dejan Vasiljevic
18:05
Shooting foul on Braxton Huggins
18:05
Zach Johnson missed 1st of 2 free throws
18:05
+1
Zach Johnson made 2nd of 2 free throws
42-41
17:55
Personal foul on Chris Lykes
17:47
Sam Bittner missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:45
Defensive rebound by Chris Lykes
17:39
Chris Lykes missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:37
Defensive rebound by Fresno State
17:27
Deshon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:25
Defensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
17:12
+2
Ebuka Izundu made layup, assist by Zach Johnson
44-41
17:12
Shooting foul on Braxton Huggins
17:12
+1
Ebuka Izundu made free throw
45-41
16:56
Christian Gray missed jump shot, blocked by Ebuka Izundu
16:54
Defensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
16:27
+2
Ebuka Izundu made layup, assist by Anthony Lawrence II
47-41
16:15
+2
Deshon Taylor made jump shot
47-43
15:59
Personal foul on Deshon Taylor
15:52
Anthony Lawrence II missed layup
15:50
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
15:40
+2
Deshon Taylor made driving layup
47-45
15:23
Lost ball turnover on Dejan Vasiljevic
15:07
Lost ball turnover on Deshon Taylor, stolen by Chris Lykes
14:47
Zach Johnson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:45
Defensive rebound by Fresno State
14:25
+3
Deshon Taylor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
47-48
14:09
Anthony Lawrence II missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:07
Defensive rebound by Deshon Taylor
14:01
Offensive foul on Nate Grimes
14:01
Turnover on Nate Grimes
13:48
Personal foul on Sam Bittner
13:37
Lost ball turnover on Dejan Vasiljevic, stolen by Deshon Taylor
13:36
Personal foul on Ebuka Izundu
13:28
+2
Nate Grimes made layup, assist by Noah Blackwell
47-50
13:18
+2
Anthony Lawrence II made layup
49-50
13:06
Personal foul on Dejan Vasiljevic
12:53
Lost ball turnover on Deshon Taylor, stolen by Chris Lykes
12:45
Anthony Lawrence II missed dunk
12:43
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
12:38
Offensive foul on Deshon Taylor
12:38
Turnover on Deshon Taylor
12:21
Shooting foul on Braxton Huggins
12:21
+1
Ebuka Izundu made 1st of 2 free throws
50-50
12:21
Ebuka Izundu missed 2nd of 2 free throws
12:21
Defensive rebound by Sam Bittner
12:02
New Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:00
Defensive rebound by Chris Lykes
11:59
+2
Zach Johnson made layup
52-50
11:59
Shooting foul on Noah Blackwell
11:59
+1
Zach Johnson made free throw
53-50
11:51
Personal foul on Chris Lykes
11:31
+2
Sam Bittner made driving layup
53-52
11:19
+3
Dejan Vasiljevic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zach Johnson
56-52
10:47
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
56-55
10:13
Sam Waardenburg missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:11
Offensive rebound by Anthony Lawrence II
10:10
Shooting foul on Nate Grimes
10:10
+1
Anthony Lawrence II made 1st of 2 free throws
57-55
10:10
+1
Anthony Lawrence II made 2nd of 2 free throws
58-55
9:57
+3
Braxton Huggins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
58-58
9:46
+3
Dejan Vasiljevic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Anthony Lawrence II
61-58
9:21
Personal foul on Dejan Vasiljevic
9:12
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:10
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
8:58
+3
New Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
61-61
8:49
Zach Johnson missed layup, blocked by Nate Grimes
8:47
Defensive rebound by New Williams
8:41
Lost ball turnover on New Williams, stolen by Anthony Lawrence II
8:41
Offensive foul on Anthony Lawrence II
8:41
Turnover on Anthony Lawrence II
8:14
New Williams missed layup
8:12
Defensive rebound by Dejan Vasiljevic
8:02
Chris Lykes missed layup, blocked by New Williams
8:00
Defensive rebound by Noah Blackwell
7:53
Bad pass turnover on New Williams, stolen by Sam Waardenburg
7:53
+2
Anthony Lawrence II made layup
63-61
7:53
Shooting foul on New Williams
7:53
+1
Anthony Lawrence II made free throw
64-61
7:35
+2
Deshon Taylor made layup
64-63
7:18
Chris Lykes missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:16
Offensive rebound by Sam Waardenburg
7:08
Sam Waardenburg missed layup
7:06
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
6:58
+2
New Williams made jump shot, assist by Noah Blackwell
64-65
6:41
Personal foul on Christian Gray
6:41
+1
Ebuka Izundu made 1st of 2 free throws
65-65
6:41
+1
Ebuka Izundu made 2nd of 2 free throws
66-65
6:24
+3
New Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sam Bittner
66-68
6:08
Traveling violation turnover on Chris Lykes
5:45
Deshon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:43
Defensive rebound by Anthony Lawrence II
5:24
Dejan Vasiljevic missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:22
Defensive rebound by New Williams
5:04
Personal foul on Zach Johnson
5:04
+1
Deshon Taylor made 1st of 2 free throws
66-69
5:04
+1
Deshon Taylor made 2nd of 2 free throws
66-70
4:51
Shooting foul on Christian Gray
4:51
+1
Zach Johnson made 1st of 2 free throws
67-70
4:51
+1
Zach Johnson made 2nd of 2 free throws
68-70
4:25
Sam Bittner missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:23
Defensive rebound by Ebuka Izundu
4:11
+3
Chris Lykes made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ebuka Izundu
71-70
3:50
Deshon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:48
Defensive rebound by Chris Lykes
3:42
+2
Chris Lykes made layup
73-70
3:33
Braxton Huggins missed layup
3:31
Offensive rebound by Fresno State
3:25
New Williams missed jump shot
3:23
Defensive rebound by Chris Lykes
3:02
Chris Lykes missed jump shot
3:00
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
2:51
Deshon Taylor missed layup
2:49
Offensive rebound by Sam Bittner
2:32
+2
Braxton Huggins made layup
73-72
2:32
Shooting foul on Ebuka Izundu
2:32
Braxton Huggins missed free throw
2:32
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
2:24
Deshon Taylor missed layup
2:22
Offensive rebound by Nate Grimes
2:12
Nate Grimes missed layup
2:10
Defensive rebound by Anthony Lawrence II
2:09
Shooting foul on Sam Bittner
2:09
Zach Johnson missed 1st of 2 free throws
2:09
Zach Johnson missed 2nd of 2 free throws
2:09
Defensive rebound by Nate Grimes
1:43
Braxton Huggins missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:41
Offensive rebound by Fresno State
1:40
Personal foul on Ebuka Izundu
1:40
Nate Grimes missed 1st of 2 free throws
1:40
+1
Nate Grimes made 2nd of 2 free throws
73-73
1:23
Zach Johnson missed layup, blocked by Nate Grimes
1:21
Offensive rebound by Miami (Fla.)
1:22
Traveling violation turnover on Anthony Lawrence II