Yes, I was shocked when Penn started the second half on a 21-6 run to take a 39-37 lead. But then Texas A&M made the kind of statement on offense that neither this Penn team nor any other I've ever seen could stop: two thunderous put-back slam dunks by Joseph Jones that gave A&M the lead for good, 41-39 with 10:31 remaining.
After that, it was the Aggies' defense and the best player on the floor, Acie Law IV. It started when Kevin Egee had to heave up a desperation shot as the shot clock expired with 8:50 left. It continued when Doninique Kirk nailed a brilliant driving layup with 4:52. Mark Zoller airballed a three at the other end, then Kirk put A&M up double digits on a kickout three with 4:08 left.
The coup de grace came with 3:07 to play, when Law crossed over Justin Reilly, banked in a driving layup of his own with three on the shot clock and restored the 10-point lead.
Law finished with a game-high 20. Penn's Mark Zoller had a respectable 19, of which 16 came in the second half. Ibrahim Jaaber scored 16, with 10 coming after halftime.
As has been the case in every game so far today, the better team won. I'm sure this makes Big Ten commissioner and Lord of the Selection Committee Jim Delany incredibly happy, but so far this NCAA Tournament has been really rather boring.
Then again, when the two most powerful people in the committee room are Delany and a guy who hires coaches to run the Princeton offense, this is surely the way it's supposed to be.
