The saying Jim Valvano made famous when his N.C. State club made its run to the 1983 national championship applies to teams in tournaments every single year. It applies to Hillhouse on day one in Class LL.
The Academics blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, allowing Harding to score 22 points in the final quarter after allowing just 27 over the first three. This is one of the more inexperienced teams Charlie Bentley has had during his long tenure at Harding. Hillhouse should have put the Presidents away - but didn't.
Freddie Wilson had 14 points, but spent a lot of the game in foul trouble. He fouled out with 11.5 seconds left in regulation.
But the Academics made their free throws in the fourth quarter (7 of 8), with Andre Anderson going 4 of 4, and they flat-out survived. It does say something that the team was able to make it through overtime without their leader.
But the Academics cannot afford another game like this and survive in this tournament - and they know it. Westhill comes to New Haven on Wednesday.