He Could Score Too?

The East had always been a place full of mystery in Western eyes, especially to those who had never left their country.

They were really having that thought right now.

Cahoon, meanwhile, let out a long breath of relief.

O'Riaqi was not stupid. He knew he had an advantage in height, and this adjustment was good news for UConn.

The game began to settle into a stalemate.

Washington State University's other players were not particularly talented. After UConn intensified its defense, scoring no longer came as easily as it had at the start.

However, after Thompson took primary defense on Walker, Walker had few scoring opportunities as well, relying only on O'Riaqi's occasional Offensive Rebounds to score.

After more than five minutes of play, UConn maintained a double-digit lead, 49-39.

At that point, Washington State University called a timeout.

"Tang, get ready to go in." Cahoon called Tang Tian over as well.

After the timeout, Tang Tian came in for Smith and continued playing small forward.

On Washington State University's possession, Thompson ran Tang Tian around the half court before their guard took the ball and charged straight into the paint.

O'Riaqi went up to contest at the rim, but the guard did not evade him and forced his way up instead.

The referee's whistle blew from the sideline, signaling a Hand-check Foul on O'Riaqi.

After making both free throws, the home team cut the deficit back to within ten points.

On the other end, Lamb's shot missed. O'Riaqi grabbed another Offensive rebound and sent it to Walker, whose Drove forcefully drew a Hand-check Foul from Thompson.

Again, both free throws were made, and the margin returned to ten points.

The stalemate continued.

"Stomp, stomp!"

"Go, Cougars!"

"Stomp, stomp!"

"Go, Cougars!"

Led by the home DJ, the home crowd continued cheering for their team.

"The margin has stayed at ten points. Now it comes down to which team can find a way to break the deadlock first," the commentator said as he watched the game.

"Washington State University is already making adjustments," the color commentator said at that moment.

The commentator turned his head in confusion, then followed the guest's gaze toward the frontcourt.

Washington State University's guard once again drove recklessly and drew a foul from O'Riaqi.

O'Riaqi had picked up two fouls in a row, bringing his foul count to three.

"Alex, watch your foul count!" Ollie shouted from the sideline.

After those two possessions, UConn had already noticed the opponent's adjustment. Bena had seen O'Riaqi's advantage on Offensive Rebounds and was trying to drive him out of the game directly.

O'Riaqi heard Ollie's warning and became very cautious over the next few possessions. But Washington State University's execution was strong, and they kept attacking. Even Orland's help defense could not arrive in time.

Despite being as careful as he could, his speed is too slow. By the ten-minute mark of the second half, he still picked up his fourth personal foul.

In the NCAA, five fouls meant being fouled out. With ten minutes remaining, Cahoon did not dare risk leaving O'Riaqi on the court and substituted Forsyth in for him.

Forsyth's Movement speed was faster than O'Riaqi's, but he was much shorter. With O'Riaqi off the court, their advantage in Offensive Rebounds disappeared as well.

On UConn's offense, Tang Tian proactively set a pick for Walker, giving him a new defender.

Walker took the opportunity to drive toward the basket.

But Thompson ignored Tang Tian entirely and went straight to double-team Walker.

Trapped, Walker did not choose to pass. Instead, he tried to force his way up, but the shot did not go in.

"Bena really is an outstanding coach. Once he got Connecticut's O'Riaqi off the floor, the pressure on the defensive end immediately became much lighter," the color commentator said after watching the possession.

"Yes, Tang has no offensive ability. They can double-team Walker without restraint now. The stalemate has been broken," the commentator added.

"Coach, should we take Tang out?" Ollie asked Cahoon at that moment. Tang Tian could not score, and with four against five on the court, Walker was being restricted too much.

Cahoon said nothing. When the players retreated past half court, he shouted at Walker, "Kemba, remember to move the ball."

Cahoon's shout reminded Walker of Tang Tian's instructions at halftime.

Since Thompson had been playing On-Ball Defense against him earlier, he had forgotten those reminders. Cahoon's shout snapped him back to them.

On Washington State University's possession, Tang Tian locked Thompson down. Washington State University's other options failed to score, and Forsyth secured the defensive rebound.

The score was 62-56, a six-point gap.

Walker brought the ball into the frontcourt. Tang Tian stepped up to set another pick, and Walker drove inside again.

Thompson left Tang Tian to double-team him.

Walker looked back and only then realized Tang Tian had drifted to the three-point line.

Tang Tian had never shown any Three-pointer ability before, but Walker knew Tang Tian's basketball IQ.

Tang Tian had come up to set the pick and then positioned himself there, which meant he had to be confident.

Walker chose to trust Tang Tian and flicked the ball out of the double-team.

The ball reached Tang Tian's hands.

A completely open look.

"What a pity," the color commentator could not help saying. Tang Tian had no offensive ability. If the screener had been Smith or Lamb, this would have been a great opportunity. Walker's pass had effectively made UConn's last dozen seconds of offense pointless.

The on-site fans were delighted as well. Tang Tian could not score, so passing the ball to him was a complete waste of offensive time.

Ollie pursed his lips helplessly. Cahoon had not listened to him. If Smith had been brought in earlier, that shot might have gone in.

Yet Cahoon watched the court with great anticipation.

After receiving the ball, Tang Tian immediately chose to shoot!

This was his first Three-point shot attempt in an NCAA game!

Everyone was visibly surprised, because it clashed with everything they knew.

A choice born of desperation?

That thought flashed through most people's minds. With so much space, it would not make sense not to shoot!

But that thought quickly vanished.

He jumped, raised the ball, extended his arm, and snapped his wrist.

Tang Tian's shooting form was as textbook-perfect as Thompson's!

And just as fast!

The ball spun through the air in a long arc, then dropped straight toward the net amid everyone's stunned gazes.

Swish!

The crisp sound echoed through the arena.

Tang Tian's Three-point shot went in cleanly!

He had made the first basket of his NCAA career!

The margin stretched back to nine points!

Everyone in the arena was stunned.

"Beautiful!" Cahoon was the first to react. The anticipation in his eyes turned into delight, and he could not help pumping his fist and shouting.

UConn's bench erupted in the next instant.

The shot had been smooth as flowing water, a joy to watch.

"He can score too?" The color commentator had not expected to underestimate Tang Tian again and blurted out in astonishment.

"Looks like it," the commentator said with a bitter smile.