Chapter 51: No More Miracles—Georgetown Is Back in Glory!
"Cheer up, guys, the game isn't over yet!"
The booming voice of Coach Rick Pitino echoed through the Madison Square Garden arena.
The Kentucky Wildcats were down, but in Pitino's mind, they were far from out.
He paced the huddle, staring into the eyes of his players. "This is still the NCAA, a team game! We have more players who can score!"
He jabbed a finger at the whiteboard, where Georgetown's lineup was scrawled. "They only have Allen and Alex Mo. Jerome and Harrington? They're not threats!"
Pitino's strategy was clear—turn up the defensive pressure on Iverson and Mo, and let their supposed "weak links" crumble under the spotlight.
"Increase the rotation," he commanded. "Wear them down! Victory will be ours!"
Kentucky was built differently. With a deep bench full of NBA-level talent, Pitino was convinced that their sheer depth would eventually exhaust Georgetown's limited star power.
But as the timeout ended and the teams retook the court, Pitino would soon learn the hard truth—his strategy was flawed.
Georgetown's Relentless Drive
Across the court, John Thompson observed his team with an unwavering gaze. He knew the stakes. This wasn't just about a championship; it was about history.
"You two good?" he asked, looking at Mo and Iverson.
"Coach, I'll rest when I'm dead," Iverson grinned, echoing Charles Barkley's famous words.
Mo nodded, eyes locked in determination. "Let's finish this."
Despite Thompson's concerns about fatigue, the two stars refused to come off. They were all-in.
And the results spoke for themselves.
Iverson and Mo combined for 41 points in the first half alone, pushing Georgetown to a commanding 51-39 lead.
The ESPN commentators marveled at the relentless duo:
"They haven't taken a breather yet!"
"Can they really sustain this pace for the full 40 minutes?"
The answer?
Yes.
Kentucky's Frustration Grows
Pitino's "rotation overload" plan backfired.
Despite frequent substitutions, Kentucky's players struggled to find a rhythm. The offense sputtered, plagued by missed shots and sloppy turnovers.
Meanwhile, Mo and Iverson fed off each other's energy.
Iverson sliced through defenders with ease, and when the defense collapsed, Mo was always there to finish with thunderous dunks or dagger mid-range jumpers.
Kentucky's Antoine Walker, frustrated, tried to take matters into his own hands—only to get swatted at the rim by Mo's towering presence.
As the second half wore on, Georgetown's lead swelled to 21 points, prompting Zhang Lili in the CCTV commentary booth to exclaim:
"No more, no more miracles for Kentucky! Georgetown is unstoppable!"
With under five minutes remaining, Pitino finally waved the white flag, pulling his starters and sending in the bench.
The realization sank in.
Georgetown had done it.
The Final Buzzer—Championship Glory
When the clock hit zero, pandemonium erupted.
Georgetown's bench stormed the court, engulfing Mo and Iverson in a sea of celebration.
"We are champions!" Jerome Williams shouted, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Allen Iverson, standing atop the scorer's table, soaked in the moment before leaping down and embracing Mo.
"Mo, we did it! We're NCAA champs!"
Mo grinned, sweat dripping down his face, lifting Iverson onto his back in celebration, mimicking Shaq and Kobe's iconic embrace.
Chapter 52: Making History—Records Shattered!
Madison Square Garden buzzed with excitement as the NCAA staff wheeled out the gleaming championship trophy.
Iverson and Mo accepted it together, hoisting it high above their heads as the arena roared.
Flashes from cameras lit up the scene as reporters scrambled to capture the historic moment.
"Record this moment!" shouted an ESPN analyst. "This might be the last time we see Mo and Iverson together before they head to the NBA!"
In the post-game press conference, the accolades poured in.
Mo Ran was officially named Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament.
His stat line?
44 points (new NCAA Finals scoring record)27 rebounds (new rebounds record)12 blocks (first-ever triple-double in NCAA Finals history)
"Mo was the best player on the floor," Iverson declared. "If the MOP wasn't given to him, I'd have refused it myself!"
With this performance, Mo had etched his name in the history books, not only at Georgetown but across the NCAA.
Meanwhile, back in China, his impact was already being felt.
Stadiums were packed, kids ran outside with basketballs in hand, and parents who once dismissed basketball as a hobby suddenly saw a future for their children in the sport.
Mo Ran had done more than win a championship.
He had ignited a movement.
Chapter 53: Bringing Talent to the NBA—Mo Declares for the Draft
As the celebrations wound down, the inevitable question was posed to Alex.
"Alex, now that you've won the championship, will you enter the 1996 NBA Draft?"
Alex smiled, taking the microphone.
"I've thought about this long before the tournament even started," he admitted. "Allen and I made a pact—if we win, we go pro."
The room fell silent.
"And now that we've won... I'm bringing my talent to the NBA."
The crowd erupted. Reporters scrambled to type headlines.
"Alex Mo DECLARES FOR 1996 NBA DRAFT!"
In the Celtics' office, Red Auerbach slammed his hand on the table. "Losing is now the only option!"
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Jerry West looked at his free agency plans, debating whether to pursue Shaquille O'Neal or shift all focus to acquiring Alex.
And in New York, Knicks owner James Dolan smirked at his general manager.
"Earl," Dolan said, "get me Alex Mo. Whatever it takes."
Even back in China, CCTV announced they would broadcast the NBA Draft live for the first time in history, all for Mo Ran.
The NBA Awaits
The stage was set.
The basketball world had taken notice.
The 1996 NBA Draft was shaping up to be one of the most exciting in history, and everyone wanted to know—
Would Alex Mo go #1 overall?
Would he join Iverson in the NBA?
Or would another team shake up the draft with a blockbuster trade?
All eyes were now on June, where Mo's next chapter would begin.