Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb and Kawhi Leonard, are all having great NBA Careers, especially Leonard who between San Antonio and Toronto has a few rings. But on March 24, 2011 in Anaheim, California, Walker & Lamb put an end to his college career with an electrifying 74-67 win in a 2 v 3 battle in the NCAA West Regional.
There was some trash talking as well, Leonard picking up a technical very early in the contest that went back and forth early. As the Aztecs got physical, the fouls pilled up. At one point 6-1 SD State....at 22-17 Aztecs, an unexpected source go the Huskies off on a 10-0 run, Roscoe Smith hit a three, followed by a couple from Walker as UConn suddenly found themselves up 5. The first half ending spurt was 19-5 and a 36-27 lead at halftime..Walker w 14, Lamb w 10..
The WAC Champion Aztecs weren't going down easily. They rallied with the help of Leonard, DJ Day, Malcolm Thomas and Billy White and took a 43-42 lead seven minutes into the second half. Moments later after an Aztec hoop, the steal and bucket off an inbound, the lead went to five and Jim Calhoun called for time....In the process of heading back to their respective benches, Aztec forward Jamal Franklin shoulders an unknowing Walker to the floor. The result ? A personal and technical foul, free throws for Kemba and the ball for UConn. That's when Walker and his freshman phenom Jeremy Lamb took over the game. A 14-0 UConn run, capped by a Walker 3, had the Huskies up 65-56 with 4:50 left.
The Aztecs had one run left and it was loud in front of the partisan home crowd in Anaheim. They got within one at 65-64 in the final 90 seconds. After Walker missed a drive inside, Alex Oriachi grabbed the biggest of his 9 boards on the night, found Lamb wide open on the left wing and the Freshman calmly buried a three to put the dagger in the Aztecs. The then jumped in transition to pick off a pass that led to a two hand jam...and after a pair of Walker free throws, slammed another one home in the final seconds to finish off San Diego State.
Walker scored 36, 22 in the in the final 20 and Lamb, equaled a season high with 24...14 in the second half. They combined for 60 points on 21 of 36 shooting, 7 of 11 from three and 11/14 from the line. The Oriachi - Smith combo combined for 17 boards for the Huskies.
The Aztecs had four players in double figures, led by D.J. Gay's 16 (made 4 three's) - Leonard was 5/12, just 12 points..he did have 9 rebounds and four assists to finish the year 34-3. While the Huskies kept rolling...and it would get easier in the Regional Final against Arizona. In fact, UConn needed a little luck to advance :)
go to UConnHuskyGames.com to watch the game !!