The Jackson Underdawgs fell to Always Us, comprised of University of Oregon Ducks alums, 79-78, in the opening round of The Basketball Tournament, Saturday.
Playing at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, the Underdawgs held a 78-77 lead after Nate Hoover (12 points) drilled a 3-pointer, but like all TBT games, the fourth quarter became the ‘Elam Ending,’ which is designed to preserve a more natural end of game finish.
The Elam Ending calls for the game clock to be shut off in the fourth quarter. A Target Score is set by adding 8 points to the leading team’s score.
The first team to reach the Target Score wins. For example, if the score is 80-72, the Target Score becomes 88. The first team to reach 88 wins.
Once the game clock is eliminated, trailing teams are allowed to concentrate on getting stops, rather than preventing the clock from running out. This results in great defense and pure basketball possessions all the way through the end.
The Underdawgs held a 71-70 lead at the start of the Elam Ending, but two Oregon free throws got the Ducks to the magic number of 79.
“I like the Elam Ending,” said Dexter Williams, Jackson’s head coach, “It’s exciting, you have to keep playing. Overall, we played really well. We were shorthanded – we had three guys who had to back out.
“But I was proud of how we competed. We played well enough to win the game, but we just didn’t win.”
Marquis Weddle had 17 points for the Underdawgs, who led 21-16 after the first quarter and 40-31 at halftime.
(PHOTO: Dexter Williams)
