Mitchell helps Saint Louis beat Memphis
Memphis' Joe Jackson drives to the basket as Saint Louis' Kwamain Mitchell defends. (March 16, 2012) Credit: AP
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Between schools from two cities known for that kind of music, Saint Louis and Memphis were singing the We Can't Make A Basket blues through most of their struggle with themselves and their opponents.
But somebody had to win Friday night's NCAA Tournament match, a long and difficult slog of turnovers, wild shots and ill-advised fouls. And that somebody was Saint Louis, 61-54, though it made its last field goal -- a desperation three-pointer as the shot clock expired -- with 4:50 to play.
That shot of semi-panic, a 30-foot heave by junior Kwamain Mitchell, came with Saint Louis clinging to a 45-44 lead.
Ninth-seeded Saint Louis is 26-7 and eighth-seeded Memphis is 26-9.
"They basically took away the fast break and we played into their hands by settling for the quick shot," Memphis guard Joe Jackson said. "They messed us up."
Florida advances. Casey Prather scored a career-high 14 points as Florida had no trouble beating Virginia, 71-45, in a West Regional game in Omaha, Neb.
-- AP
