The Steamer players were basking in the excitement of their tactical run and their star hitting another three-pointer, when they were suddenly tackled and no one else reacted, and Cardinal couldn't catch up.

Li Ao rushed to the front court, grabbed the ball one step outside the free throw line, took two big strides in a row to close range, jumped hard, and slammed the tomahawk split!

The Trojan fans who had just been suppressed were instantly ignited, and more than 20,000 people cheered wildly, shouting "Leo" loudly, and the momentum suddenly surpassed the opposing fans.

Li Ao's teammates were also excited, and Bai Mamba, who had just been annoyed by the iron, immediately cheered up.

What about his iron?

He has teammates! He's not fighting alone!

In the next ball, he still dared to shoot!

That's it, Bai Mamba found that their little handsome guy seems to be able to dance more than before?

However, people are in the prime of their 18-year-old youth, and their bodies have developed a little, which is normal.

It's just that he's a little sour, as if his bounce hasn't improved since high school......

With three seconds left in the first half, the Steamers sent the ball out, and Jalan Connell took two quick dribbles to shoot the whistle in the center circle...... was slapped by Li Ao, who would never relax until the whistle sounded.

Steal + dunk + block, Li Ao helped the team regain 1 point over the steamer workers 43-42 and enter the halftime break!

Now it was John Allison's turn to be annoyed.

Why are you only thinking about three points?

The ball just now, Li Ao didn't care about blocking and dismantling without the ball at all, and ran to steal Cardinal, if he didn't just think about throwing three points, Rodney Smith had every chance to catch the ball and attack the frame directly.

But when it comes to the next offense, the Steamers players will still choose the most daring way to attack.

This is the way of playing the 'coal-powered' steam furnace, indomitable and fearless!

…

Coming back from half-time, Sam Clancy is too excited right now.

That guy, I've got to give him a hand again!

The adjustment of the head coach just now allowed Li Ao to reduce the regular time offense, respond more, find a suitable containment position, and focus on defense.

But there was one sentence that Sam Clancy didn't pay attention to, or selectively ignored.

When it comes to the necessary moment, Li Ao can take the initiative to command his teammates.

When is the necessary moment?

This Henry Bibby didn't say it, that is, he changed direction and gave Li Ao the right to command on the field!

Li Ao did not question the arrangement of the coaching staff, and looking back on the first half, he felt that this choice was appropriate.

Now that his team-mates are able to hit regular goals consistently, it is indeed a better option for him to do more.

He believes in his teammates!

The half-time break ended and the second half began.

The Trojans fielded a combination of Nate Hale, Ao Lee, Sam Clancy, Shelby Jordan, and Brushenthal.

After the game restarted, Li Ao quickly discovered another benefit of the middle-aged man's adjustment to his playing style - the opponent's emphasis on his defense has increased!

He played 15 minutes in the first half and scored nine points, which is not much, but the goals scored were crucial.

The mid-range shot at the beginning, the dunk 2+1 when the opponent was about to overtake the score, the offensive and defensive transition that came back from a 5-minute break in the middle of the game threw Bo to the foul and hit both free throws, and the final steal counterattack dunk.

In fact, he was 3-of-7 in the half, which was average in terms of his style of play, but he couldn't stand every goal that impressed the opponent, and the Steamers strengthened their defense against him during the break.

This makes Li Ao's playstyle adjustment more effective!

It is much easier to find an opportunity to respond than to find a chance to catch and shoot, he does not need to shake off the opponent's poor rhythm or anything, but takes the initiative to find a change of defense, find a pinch, and create opportunities for his teammates to eat cakes or play misplaced.

Originally, Henry Bibby's goal at this stage was to consume the opponent with hand-to-hand combat, and just continue to bite the score, but relying on Sam Clancy's basket impact and Brushenthal's mid-to-close shot, they played the opponent an 8-4 start, 51-46, and the Trojans took a 5-point lead!

Steamer head coach Keon Dekay called a timeout for substitutions and adjusted tactics.

Henry Bibby also made a substitution, praising Sam Clancy with "you were the biggest contributor to the score", replacing Nate Hale and Sam Clancy with Charles and Granville.

The role of the stormtrooper in the rotation stage, Sam Clancy is used to it, usually he goes up at this time to rush for a few minutes, and today there is a compliment, he sat down happily, and sent a provocative look at Li Ao.

Li Ao: -_-||

It's a fool.

The timeout came back and the steam of steamer workers attacked.

Li Ao followed Jalan Connell and Shelby Jordan followed Cardinal, and the Trojans' defensive space was stretched wide, and the Steamers backup point guard Maynard Lewis and backup center Greg McQuay blocked and went straight to the basket.

McQuay had a shot, Charles was pulled out, Lee, and Shelby Jordan couldn't get their hands on the contractions, and Maynard Lewis excitedly went deep into the basket and jumped, and he was going to dunk ......

Brushenthal has made a meritorious service! A slap covered Maynard Lewis's lifted ball, and Li Ao grabbed the rebound.

Obviously he could make a quick layup or throw from close range, but he had to dunk, and he didn't take Brushenthal into account, and he was capped!

This is not a small blow to the Steamer Workers.

When the Trojans attacked, Li Ao noticed that the opponent began to relax his marking and strengthened the defense against Brushenthal.

He cut in decisively, Granville tacitly passed, Li Ao came to the basket to receive the ball, McQuay contracted quickly and made up for it, but Li Ao withstood McQuay and raised the ball to hook his hand......

McQuay tried to reach out to interfere, but it was short, and he watched Li Ao hook his hand and hit!

McQuay is a very good backup center, averaging 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal per game, but the movement speed of 110 kilograms is very good, the defense is fast, the blocking and dismantling is strong, and there is even a three-point shooting rate of 31% in one hand, so he can easily pull the center out when he goes to the pick-and-roll.

But the problem is that with his height of 201 cm and arm span of 200 cm, even if he has a tonnage of 110 kg, he can only stare dryly when he is held under the basket by the opponent's insider.

However, he usually shrinks to resist other small forwards, and often relies on his weight and strength to make the opponent stand unsteadily, but he didn't expect Li Ao to be able to barely carry it!

And this guy looks so immature, but he plays so concisely and efficiently, he doesn't seem to have any superfluous movements, he's too mature!

He didn't think at all that Li Ao was playing simply, and he would only be able to do that simple thing......

And when I switched to the Trojans coaching staff, I thought about it - play with my brain!

The Trojans' attack and defense severely damaged the morale of the steam furnace workers!

With a seven-point difference, after the Trojans gradually replaced the strongest firepower lineup, it became extremely difficult for the Steamers to overtake the score again.

After Li Ao scored two points, he began to switch his style of play to reduce the consumption on the offensive end, because the opponent paid attention to his defense again.

With his succinct offensive style, covering from a long two-point to an effective scoring area under the basket, the Steamers players couldn't figure out when he would take the initiative and could only keep an eye on him.

When the Trojans sent the strongest firepower lineup of Granville, Trepagnier, Li Ao, White Mamba, and Brushenthal, the Steam Cookers fought back, and they could only fight back and forth.

Playing against such a strong opponent, Li Ao has learned a lot and enriched his playing style.

At 14 minutes and 32 seconds into the second half, the Trojans attacked.

The steam of steam oven workers are very hard to defend themselves, because they are really dangerous now!

76-84, they are already eight points behind.

With more than 5 minutes left, a single-digit margin and hopefully, a double-digit margin of difference against the Trojans, they themselves feel impossible.

Li Ao flanked the white mamba to block and dismantle, and the opponent changed the defense very quickly and was extremely active.

Granville didn't play this breakthrough + flank blocking and pick-and-roll coordination, but it didn't matter, the 35-second offensive time was only halfway through.

Li Ao continued to run, he looked at the opponent's defensive position and movement, and came up with an idea, let's give it a try! Anyway, they take the initiative.

He beckoned for the ball and ran towards the top arc.

Although Granville was puzzled, he protected the ball, and when Li Ao braked, he immediately passed the ball over.

McQuay, who was in the position of the big forward, switched to Li Ao when he was defending the block and dismantling just now, and when he saw Li Ao running towards the top arc, he hesitated for a second and chose to follow.

Seeing Li Ao catching the ball at the top of the arc, McQuay remembered that the scouting report said that the opponent had no three-point ability, and he had never seen the opponent hit a three-point shot in the video.

However, Li Ao scored several key goals in front, at this point in time, in such a situation, McQuay can only choose to follow, in case the other party scores three points this time, they will be finished.

On Granville's side, when the ball was passed, his first reaction was, 'What am I going to do next?' Confused, he chose to go around the bottom corner and then run back to close range as he usually does with Brushenthal's close-range singles or Trepaganier's flank singles.

It's just that after he successfully left Carson Cunningham behind him, he didn't see his teammates who usually hit singles on the other side of the three-second zone when he usually runs like this, and he feels lonely running, and the opportunity has come, but there is no ball...... Here comes the ball!

Granville suddenly saw the ball appear on the floor in front of him on the left and bounce in front of him, and he subconsciously burst into a step forward and received the ball.

John Allison immediately pounced on the basket, Granville grinned and threw his hand, and John Allison struggled to jump, but still couldn't touch the ball.

Granville's small toss arced high and fell...... Fall into the box!

At the same time as the ball went in, John Allison, who confiscated his foot, knocked down the smiling Granville, and the two screamed at the same time because of the pain of the collision, the big man of 208 cm and the small man of 175 cm, this posture, this sound, this picture is too beautiful......

The people around him forgot to help people for a while.

Li Ao couldn't stand it anymore, stepped forward and pulled John Allison away, and asked, "Are you okay Brandon?" ”

Seeing that the other party nodded although he gritted his teeth, Li Ao picked up Granville and put it down.

Li Ao pulled away John Allison's action, which made the players of the Steamer Workers who were already stretched to 10 points because of the point difference, angry, but saw Li Ao pick up his teammates like a boy......

Listening to the laughter of the fans at the scene, well, they felt that John Allison was not so miserable, and John Allison, who was originally the most angry, was not angry.

John Allison remembered a famous scene he saw two days ago - Li Ao almost knocked over the top scorer in the PAC10 league, but protected the opponent, but when he held the opponent steady, he directly picked up the opponent and put him on the ground to stand firm.

He was glad that he was big, and the other party couldn't carry it, otherwise he would have died.

The referee saw that the two of them were fine, and although the picture just now wanted to laugh, he was professional and motioned for Granville to take a free throw.

Granville is used to it, and it's not the first time, it's an away game, there are outsiders, and their fans are laughing with restraint.

At home, the laughter was deafening.

Granville walked to the free throw line, the cheers and boos of the fans at the scene were mixed, and he was carried by Li Ao, and he played 2+1 The feeling of excitement and pain on the top was much lighter, and he calmly added a free throw...... Also enter!

At 87-76, the Trojans had an 11-point lead!

For the first time in the game, the margin reached double digits, which was a huge blow to the Steamers players who were behind.

But this team is really resilient!

At this time, they tried their best to defend and did not prevent it, and the score difference was widened, but they still did not give up, but tried their best to launch the final counterattack, the momentum, it felt that the score difference was not 11 points, but 1 point, and it was as if they could overtake it immediately.

But the Trojans have long known this characteristic of the opponent and paid special attention to it, and they did not relax when they led by 11 points, and they also followed the all-out bombardment.

The Steamers went on a 6-3 run, but then the Trojans returned a 7-4 run to bring the score to 86-97.

When it came to the Steamer Workers' offense, Jalan Cornell hit a single three-point shot in the face of Trepagnier's defense, and the score came to 89-97, with 1 minute left on the clock, and they still didn't give up!

However, when it came to the Trojans' attack, Li Ao received the ball and turned around and hit it, with 58 seconds left, and the difference came back to 10 points!

The Steamer Workers wanted to defend the ball and counterattack, but in the end they had a tactical foul and luck, and they had already made 7 fouls, just find the player with the worst free throws to foul them.

But Li Ao's hit killed the opponent's last hope!

The final seconds passed quickly, and before the final whistle, Cardinal threw his last collegiate shot from his three-point line to the opposite basket, and the Steamers' last shot of the season......

With the long whistle at the end of the game, the ball actually hit the rebound and bounced into the frame, causing the audience to exclaim.

However, this had no effect on the outcome of the match.

Relying on Li Ao's 18 points and 5 assists, Bai Mamba's 21 points, Granville's 9 points, 7 assists and 3 steals, and Brushenthal's 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists...... The Trojans defeated the Steam Oven Workers 102-94!

The Trojans fans cheered wildly, shouting "We want the championship" and "The Trojans are about to be great...... But the sound was drowned out by the fans of the Steamer Workers.

The Steamer Workers, which brought together fans from major cities in Indiana, are now very unwilling!

They have a chance! There is a chance to return to their home city and play in the final four, and they have what it takes to win the championship!

However, it is a little bit worse, every time it overtakes the score, every time it is a little bit worse.

When the big screen on the scene was given to Li Ao, the boos and scolding of the fans of the Steam Workers reached a boiling point!

This crazy energy shocked the Trojans fans.

It's too fanatical!

But this sounded a shame to the Steamer players, and they felt like they were booing them.

And the Trojans players here, if they are booed, they are booed, and they win!

How to celebrate, how to celebrate!

It's just that seeing the two teammates walking towards the middle of the court, the Trojans players and coaches are not calm.

Won't it ......

Vaco!

When the two came to the arena, one waved his arms upwards and shouted, "Be louder, haven't you eaten?" One made a gesture of listening.

The Trojans fans burst into flames and cheered wildly.

The boos and scolding of the steam of steamer workers were overtaken! However, they were mainly shocked by the movements of the two people on the court, and it was the first time they had encountered such a situation.

When they reacted, they were going crazy!

The teammates hurriedly pulled the two overly coquettish teammates away, and the scene was about to riot!

…

At a coffee shop near the Energy Solutions Arena, Vivian, Liam, and a mature young lady sit together to eat.

The main thing is that this game is shouting too hard and shouting that the hungry Vivian is eating.

She swallowed the last bite of the steak, wiped her mouth, and said, "Thanks to my quick reaction and calling you to go with me, otherwise, the people at Purdue University are so crazy today, even if Liam you run faster than a dog, it is estimated that you will be beaten." ”

"I'm going to be afraid of them? I'm going to hit ten! Liam retorted on the spot.

However, although he said so, he was still quite afraid, he didn't fight before, and he didn't get beaten before.

But I just made an appointment with a mature young lady, and if I was beaten in front of me, it would be a shame.

Vivien saw that there were outsiders and didn't poke Liam's cowhide, and suddenly, she noticed that someone was missing and asked, "Where did Jessica go?" ”

Liam replied, "She said she went back to the hotel first, and you probably didn't hear because you were too focused on eating." ”

"Oh...... Wrong! When I picked her up at noon, she said she hadn't booked a hotel yet! ”

Vivien and Liam glanced at each other, and the gossip soul burned!

"Isn't it ...... Liam, I'm going back to the hotel, what about you? ”

"I'll go too...... Wait, Sabella, let's go see the fun? ”

The young lady named Sabella, who graduated from USC ten years ago, runs a small business in the city, and heard that she can watch the lace anecdotes of the basketball team of her alma mater, and immediately responded.

The three of them hurried back to the hotel and asked the front desk, but Li Ao hadn't come back yet.

The three of them waited in the corner with newspapers to cover their bodies, and they didn't wait long, and sure enough, they saw Li Ao return to the hotel ahead of schedule, followed by Jessica, who was eating dinner and leaving early!

Ask for a monthly pass, ask for a recommended ticket! The recommended vote is still a loss and full of 1W, and there is a plus~

(End of chapter)