The ferocious dunk by Griffin ignited the Oklahoma home fans, sending the entire arena into a frenzy. Fanatical supporters waved their slogans frantically, creating a tsunami of cheers that echoed throughout the stadium.
Wilkinson, a seasoned player, remained composed despite Griffin's powerful dunk. Having experienced many intense moments, he displayed excellent psychological resilience. After Lian Dao and Gibson regained their footing, Wilkinson hustled back on defense with determination. In contrast, Vucevic might have struggled with psychological fluctuations under such pressure.
For Lian Dao, the spectacle didn't faze him much. Before his rebirth, he had witnessed numerous players with exceptional physical talents, such as future stars like Zion Williamson and Antetokounmpo. Their athleticism often surpassed even that of Griffin.
On USC's side, the point guard dribbled the ball across half-court and passed it to DeRozan. DeRozan swiftly accelerated past his defender and went up for a shot.
His technical movements were fluid and seamless, but his shot was unexpectedly deflected, hitting the rim's edge.
This play epitomized DeRozan's next three possessions. Throughout these sequences, DeRozan struggled to find his rhythm, missing all his attempts as if he had lost his touch.
As a result, Oklahoma quickly scored 8 unanswered points.
The score now stood at 11-3, with USC trailing by 8 points.
Lian Dao quickly realized that if they continued with the same approach, the game would slip away from them.
"Hey, DeMar, take it easy. Let me handle this. You focus on adjusting," Lian Dao said, patting DeRozan reassuringly on the shoulder.
Tim also noticed DeRozan's struggle and promptly called for a timeout. Instead of reprimanding him, Tim advised DeRozan to ease up on his solo attempts and reminded the team of their strategy over a metaphorical bowl of chicken soup.
Lian Dao had a hunch about what was troubling DeRozan. With numerous media and NBA scouts present, DeRozan felt compelled to impress. His attempt at a long three-pointer early on had heightened his eagerness to perform, but it had gone too far. The more he forced it after missing the first shot, the worse his shooting form became. His fourth attempt, under double coverage, was a desperate move that risked becoming a blooper reel.
During the timeout, Lian Dao took charge once more. Despite his earlier success with a deep three-pointer, the opposition didn't seem overly concerned about his scoring threat. In the NCAA's current landscape, shooting from such extreme distances was considered impractical and unreliable.
However, Lian Dao's subsequent scoring spree defied conventional wisdom and sent a message to all NCAA coaches: Innovation trumps tradition.
In the following minutes, Lian Dao nailed three consecutive deep three-pointers and hit two more shots. Including his initial long-range bomb, Lian Dao racked up four three-pointers within the opening eight minutes of play, altering the momentum of the game.
In the first few possessions, USC's teammates, especially DeRozan, focused heavily on defense. DeRozan, recognizing his shooting struggles, redirected his energy towards defensive efforts, successfully intercepting a pass from Oklahoma's point guard Willie Warren to Austin Johnson. Meanwhile, Gibson delivered a solid block against Griffin on another play.
After making defensive adjustments, DeRozan regained his composure and contributed with a mid-range jumper and a layup off a drive.
The rest of the team also performed admirably.
During this stretch, USC staged an impressive comeback, outscoring Oklahoma 18-6, flipping the score to 17-21 in their favor.
Southern California successfully turned the tide of the game.
At that moment, Lian Dao once again controlled the ball outside the three-point line.
Tony Crocker glanced towards head coach Jeff Capel on the bench, silently asking if they should double-team. Jeff Capel, knowing from USC's previous games and videos that Lian Dao excelled not only in shooting but also in passing, hesitated. He was more concerned about Lian Dao's ability to distribute the ball than his three-point shooting.
Thus, Jeff Capel signaled Tony to continue defending Lian Dao solo.
Frustrated by Lian Dao's three-pointer, Tony couldn't resist taunting, "Are you just a softie who shoots threes?"
Lian Dao smiled faintly, finding Tony's trash talk rather amusing, akin to elementary school banter.
With calm composure, Lian Dao dribbled the ball, and Tony, wary of Lian Dao's dribbling and potential to drive past him, didn't risk reaching in to steal. He knew Lian Dao's capability from studying game footage—stealing could lead to being easily blown by.
Lian Dao set a trap, feigning a drive, but Tony didn't take the bait. Instead, he moved to cut off Lian Dao's potential path to the basket.
Unperturbed, Lian Dao executed a quick step-back, creating space, and smoothly dribbled backward while preparing for a three-point shot. Aware of his current limitations in driving to the hoop, Lian Dao opted for the higher-percentage shot.
Tony, realizing Lian Dao's feint, reacted swiftly, lunging forward to contest the shot. However, in his attempt to block, Tony inadvertently fouled Lian Dao, slapping his wrist just as he released the ball.
Before the referee's whistle blew, Lian Dao's shot missed its mark due to the contact on his shooting hand.
"Whistle," the referee intervened promptly.
"Not only can I shoot threes, but I can draw fouls too," Lian Dao remarked with a wry smile, shrugging at Tony, a hint of playful sarcasm in his expression.
"FUCK," Tony cursed under his breath, frustrated by Lian Dao's skill and strategy.
Lian Dao proceeded to sink 2 out of 3 free throws from the resulting foul.
At that moment, Jeff Capel, the head coach of the University of Oklahoma, couldn't remain seated and promptly called for a timeout.
Meanwhile, Tim continued his supportive gestures, reassuring the next player with a shoulder pat.
Off the court, Lian Dao sat on the bench, gulping down mineral water to rehydrate, his breath heavy from the intense exertion. Returning swiftly for defense after each offensive play and orchestrating the offense under heavy defensive pressure had taken a toll on him. Lian Dao, not naturally endowed with exceptional physical stamina, felt the strain of the game's relentless pace.
Observing Lian Dao's fatigue, Jeff Capel opted for a double-team strategy to force Lian Dao into errors.
Concerned, Tim couldn't help but express his worry as he saw Lian Dao struggling with sweat and heavy breathing.
"You okay? Maybe you should take a breather," Tim suggested sympathetically.
"I'm alright. Holding on is better than sitting out," Lian Dao responded between labored breaths, determined to stay in the game despite his exhaustion.
Tim understood Lian Dao's resolve. With USC leading 23-17, a 6-point advantage was far from secure in such a competitive matchup.
Back on the court, Lian Dao received the ball beyond the three-point line.
Tony quickly signaled Griffin to double-team Lian Dao. Anticipating the defense, Lian Dao swiftly passed the ball through the gap to Gibson cutting towards the basket. Gibson caught the pass and soared up for a dunk.
However, Griffin reacted in time to contest Gibson's dunk attempt. Despite Griffin's effort, Gibson's experience prevailed as he passed to Wilkinson under the basket, who dunked successfully.
The effective team play nullified Oklahoma's double-team strategy, demonstrating USC's tactical prowess.
But on Oklahoma's subsequent possession, Griffin drove for a layup, drawing a foul from Wilkinson. This foul marked Wilkinson's third personal foul of the game. In NCAA rules, a player fouls out after accumulating five personal fouls.
Tim grimaced at Wilkinson's foul trouble but hesitated to substitute him out, knowing Wilkinson's height and physical presence were crucial against Oklahoma's strong inside game, particularly with no other viable center options available for USC.
Griffin calmly sank both free throws, cutting USC's lead to 23-21.