Commons Gets 29 in Romp Notches First No
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+ SECTION C, PAGE 4 w THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2005 + COLLEGE BASKETBALL NBA Oakland Cavs fans see James Commons gets 29 in romp notches first No. 1 Findlay in Elite Eight after thrashing Ferris State NCAA win score 36, boo Boozer SPECIAL TO THE BLADE NCAA Division II regional percent (29-of-61), cut their ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS uniform on the giant scoreboard FINDLAY — Next stop, the defi ct to 62-57 with 10:12 re- Findlay............................... 94 DAYTON — It took eight CLEVELAND — LeBron James before the game and when Utah Elite Eight. maining. years in Division I for Oak- doesn’t miss Carlos Boozer near- shot free throws. The University of Findlay Ferris State ....................... 73 But the Oilers wouldn’t let a land to get its fi rst win in the ly as much anymore. Cleveland Those moments were greeted men’s basketball team capped comeback happen, pounding NCAA tournament. fans, though, are still dealing with loud “boos” not the lov- off its run through the NCAA and having the added burden the ball inside to Commons As a reward, the Golden with some separation anxiety. of being ranked No. 1,” Findlay ing “Boooze” that Boozer heard Division II Great Lakes Regional and Gaines as they killed the Grizzlies get to play top- James scored 36 points in 34 during his two seasons as a fan with a 94-73 victory over Ferris coach Ron Niekamp said. “It’s a Bulldogs’ spirit once and for all seeded North Carolina — in dominant minutes against Booz- relief to win this game and very favorite in Gund Arena. State last night in front of a sold- with an 18-4 run that made the Charlotte, no less. er’s new team, leading the Cava- Some fans brought home- out crowd at Croy Gymnasium. rewarding.” score 80-61. Oakland broke open a liers to their third straight win, an Marwan Gaines scored 19 made signs to send their own The victory catapults Findlay “I thought we spent a lot of tight game behind Rawle easy 92-73 rout of the cold-shoot- personal message to Boozer. into the Elite Eight for the fi rst points, Dustin Pfeifer hit for 15 energy trying to get back into Marshall’s 29 points and ing Utah Jazz last night. and Tyson McGlaughlin had 13 Among the most creative: time in school history on a night the game, and they just wore Cortney Scott’s 21 to beat James went 11-of-15 from the “Carlos Whozer?” “Is Last Place when it played perhaps its best as the Oilers earned a trip to us down,” Ferris State coach Alabama A&M 79-69 last fi eld, 12-of-16 Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Worth $68 Million?” and “Et Tu, game of the season. Bill Sall said. “It’s obvious why night in the opening round on free throws, Boozer?” a reference to the Ides The Oilers (30-3) shot a blaz- Forks, N.D., next week. they are the No. 1 team in the of the NCAA tournament at added nine “I wanted to come out hard to- of March. ing 64.9 percent (37-of-57) from country.” the University of Dayton. rebounds and Boozer’s about-face is not as the fi eld and got a game-high 29 night,” Commons said. “I played Carlton Epps pumped in “There can’t be too many had a perfectly my best game of the tournament historical, but not enough time points from Chris Commons, the 18 points to lead the Bulldogs colleges who can say they balanced per- has passed to heal Cleveland’s former Toledo Central Catholic tonight and I’m glad I could do and Antwuan Holt and Jeffery won a game in the NCAA formance. Of CAVALIERS 92 it for the coaches and the seniors pain. standout. Commons was one of Shanahan each scored 13. Scott tournament,” a grinning his 36 points, JAZZ 73 “Hopefully he heard the mes- four Oilers in double fi gures as on this team.” product Dennis Springs fi nished Marshall said. “We’ll ride 12 came in the Ferris State battled all night, sage through the TV,” Cavs guard Findlay used its balance to over- with just six points but had six this momentum and see paint, 12 came from the line and Jeff McInnis said. whelm the Bulldogs (24-7). but a pair of runs sealed its fate. assists. how far it takes us.” the other 12 came on outside The fi rst was an 11-2 Findlay Cavaliers fans are taking sol- “We’ve had a rough six weeks “I have nothing to hang my The Golden Grizzlies (13- jumpers. ace in seeing Boozer struggle. or so trying to defend fi rst place run over the fi nal four minutes head about,” Springs said. “We 18) won their sixth game “Oh, God,” Cavaliers coach of the opening half that gave the The Jazz is just 20-43, while in the conference, trying to had a great season and helped in a row, including three Paul Silas said. “He’s the best 20- Cleveland is 34-27 and on its defend fi rst place in the region Oilers a 48-34 lead at halftime. build this program back up.” upsets in as many days last year-old I’ve ever seen. Overall, The Bulldogs, who shot 47.5 way to qualifying for the NBA week by a combined seven he was just magnifi cent. I don’t playoffs. points to take the Mid-Con- think I’ve ever seen him make as James didn’t score his fi rst tinent Conference title. many outside shots.” points until dropping two free in all sorts of environments dur- Torbert has swallowed his pride “If we win the national Drew Gooden, acquired by throws with 6:37 left in the fi rst ing the past four years. as a sixth man. Hill has been hon- championship, we’ll fi nally Cleveland in a trade last sum- quarter. But he was just warming MSU But those assets consistently ored as the nation’s top Academic get to 19-18,” coach Greg mer to replace Boozer, added 10 up because with 8:47 left in the have faded late in games against All-American. Bograkos overcame Kampe said with a laugh. points and 10 rebounds. Continued from Page 1 second quarter, he had 22. ranked opponents and in close leukemia as a child. Now they get to play the Utah, which scored just 62 The Jazz, meanwhile, was hav- trip to the NCAA tournament. games against unranked foes, “It’s probably been one of the mighty Tar Heels. points in a loss at Detroit on Sun- ing trouble getting off a good “It’s an opportunity to prove leaving some to say their parts greatest classes we’ve ever had “To play against some of day, scored nine in the second shot against the Cavaliers’ suffo- something to themselves. We’ve are greater than their sum. when you consider each of their the No. 1 players in the na- quarter and went 27-of-81 from cating defense. James scored 15 played so much to prove things “I’d like to think this team stories,” Izzo said. tion — it’ll be great to put the fi eld. Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points and Cleveland outscored to everybody else,” Izzo said. could get to a Final Four. I believe your talent up against them points — 12 in the fi rst quarter Utah 24-9 in the second quarter Though many analysts don’t anybody we play, we’re capable of In the NIT: and see where you stand,” — and Matt Harpring added just to open a 50-32 halftime lead. beating,” Izzo said. “The unfortu- foresee the Spartans getting past VIRGINIA TECH 60, TEMPLE 50 Scott said. six on 2-of-11 shooting as the “LeBron showed why he’s one Syracuse this weekend, at least nate part is just about anyone we BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Oakland became only Jazz lost its sixth straight. of the best players in the NBA,” some oddsmakers have a stun- play is capable of beating us.” Tech spoiled John Chaney’s return to the fi fth team with a los- The club also had to endure Kirilenko said. “We stopped ning level of confi dence in them. Anderson, Torbert and Hill the Temple bench. ing record to win an NCAA the wrath of Cleveland fans up- executing and just got caught Michigan State is a 6-1 favorite came to Michigan State as fresh- Chaney was coaching his fi rst tournament game, follow- set that Boozer, sidelined with a watching LeBron.” to win the championship, trail- men expecting to blend in with game since serving a three-week ing Bradley in 1955 and the sprained foot, didn’t make the a team led by Jason Richardson suspension for sending Nehemiah ing just four teams, according to Ingram in to commit hard fouls that last three years at the Day- trip. He’s now considered a trai- Also: and Zach Randolph during the the Glantz-Culver line. left Saint Joseph’s senior John Bry- ton opening round: Siena in tor here for signing a $68 million PISTONS/BROWN: Detroit Pis- The Spartans appear to have 2001-02 season, but both left ant with a broken arm. 2002, UNC-Asheville in 2003 free-agent deal with the Jazz. tons coach Larry Brown is out indefi - the ingredients to make a suc- school early to play in the NBA.