North Carolina's defense? Suffocating.
Lin Yi had to pull out everything from his bag. He knew Davidson couldn't go toe-to-toe on defense, not like UNC. So the only way to keep up? Just outscore them.
For nearly eight straight minutes, Lin Yi cooked. UNC players stared at him and—quietly—couldn't help but think of that legend himself.
Ti and ti again, he hit them with sothing new. Fadeaways, floaters, step-backs. It didn't matter. He just found a way.
Barkley solemnly muttered into the mic, "If you didn't believe in the big man to be a star in the NBA, but tonight? He must have got you sold on."
UNC threw everything at Lin. Traps, switches, full-body defense.
Finally, Coach Roy Williams had enough. He called for the Jordan Rules.
Because he knew Lin Yi couldn't keep up this pace forever.
But man, the Davidson fans in that red sea at Lucas Oil? They were already in tears.
Every ti Lin scored, the cheerleaders scread themselves hoarse, like they could lift him with their voices.
Was he done?
Not yet.
Should he be?
Probably. But not Lin Yi.
Coach Roy's jaw clenched. The man was cracking.
Finally, Lin looked like he had hit his limit.
And just then—boom—the stadium roared again.
"Stephen Curry! He's back!" Barkley yelled, leaping to his feet like it was 1993 again.
Score: 73–75.
4:27 left on the clock. Davidson tiout.
Coach McKillop clutched the whiteboard tightly. This tiout wasn't just for Curry—it was to buy Lin Yi a few precious gulps of air.
No sub. No rest.
Lin slumped onto the bench, towel over his head. Even through the fabric, you could hear him breathing like he'd just been through the grind. Because he had.
Steph crouched next to him and grinned. "Lin. You're my best teammate, leave the rest to ."
Under the towel, Lin Yi smiled—but didn't speak.
Too tired.
He was in a weird zone.
His limbs scread at him to lie down. But his mind? It was flying.
This ga—this war against UNC—was the most fun he'd ever had. Pushing past every limit, every ounce of himself. It was painful, yeah—but it felt damn good.
Maybe that's why Chris Paul would later say: If you don't go all-in like that... why even play this ga?
NBA players were all low-key masochists.
Tiout's over. UNC's got fresher legs. Their bench is deeper. They've had breathers.
Back on the floor, Hansbrough glanced at Lin Yi and wanted to say, "Dude, just take a break."
But the words never made it out.
Ga on.
Vince Carter scanned the stands, stunned. The crowd? They'd flipped. Neutral fans who'd cheered for UNC were now roaring for Davidson.
For the first ti all night, the stadium was louder for the Wildcats.
Steph ca back and imdiately buried a clean three.
His ankle was wrapped like a mummy's, but he moved like nothing was wrong.
Wildcats take the lead.
DAVIDSON!
DAVIDSON!
DAVIDSON!
Dell Curry scread himself hoarse. Sonya Curry cried behind her hands.
Steph turned to Lin after the bucket. Lin had just set a screen for him, barely standing.
Steph grinned, jogged back, and smacked Lin on the butt. "I got this. Rest your legs, big fella."
Lin nodded.
Barkley was almost choked up. "I can't believe they're leading."
"This might be... the best NCAA ga in a decade," Kenny Smith said.
Nobody in Lucas Oil was sitting anymore.
UNC ca back—Ellington dropped in his 22nd point of the night.
UNC back up by one.
Davidson's next play: Curry and Lin Yi, classic pick-and-roll.
Ty Lawson slamd into Lin like he hit a brick wall. How the hell is this guy still screening?!
Curry faked the three, took one dribble in, and pulled up.
Buckets.
78–77. Davidson back in front.
"DEFENSE! DEFENSE!" roared the red sea.
Steph scread it. Hands gesturing to fall back.
The whole team followed.
UNC ran their set. Hansbrough got a clean look, turned, and pulled up.
But Lin Yi's arm ca out of nowhere. Got a fingertip on it. Beasley snatched the rebound.
Kick-ahead.
Curry on the break.
80–77.
The crowd lost it.
But UNC answered right back—Lawson nailed a three.
Tied. 80–80.
Barkley groaned. "That's Carolina for you."
No matter how hard Davidson fought, UNC never quit.
Steph and Lin ran the PnR again. Steph threw it high this ti.
Lin Yi rose up.
SLAM.
82–80.
Roy Williams didn't call tiout. He trusted his guys.
UNC worked the clock, passed it sharp.
Danny Green popped open in the corner and drilled it.
82–83. UNC up again. Second triple in a row.
Most teams? That would've broken them.
Not Davidson.
:47 seconds left.
Steph and Lin. One more ti.
Lin drew both Davis and Hansbrough.
Steph slipped past Lawson, rose up, smooth mid-range jumper—
84–83.
The roof ca off Lucas Oil Stadium.
....
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