This Is More Like It. . .

Finally, the Cats showed some fight!

Way to rally back in that final minute.  I also liked the Cats' response to the flagrant foul by Aubrey Coleman that got him ejected, shown below.  

The video speaks for itself.  You just can't step on a guy's face and expect to stay in the game.  And anyone who tries to tell me that it was inadvertent is kidding themselves.

Do I blame Budinger for blowing his top in response?  No.  Do I agree with the technical foul, though?  Yes.

But wow.  What a rally in the final minute.  A three from Budinger with 37 seconds left to made it 87-81 in favor of Houston, followed by a Cougar missed free throw, and then a free throw made by Houston's Zamal Nixon to make it 88-81.  This seemingly put the game in the bag for the Cougars.  But it was only beginning. . .

Nic Wise made a layup for the Wildcats to make it 88-83 in favor of Houston with 28 seconds left.  Then, after a Houston turnover, Jordan Hill made a layup to cut the lead to 88-85 with 22 seconds left.  After a Nic Wise foul with 19 seconds on the clock, Kelvin Lewis -- the game's

 leading scorer -- went to the line to try and ice the game for the Cougars.  But he missed both free throws!  Basketball players, remember, free throws win games!  This game is proof, for after Jordan Hill grabbed the rebound, Nic Wise sank a three (right) to tie the game with 19 seconds left.  Lewis and Wade both missed for Houston, and the game went to OT.

In OT, the Cougars did not make one field goal.  They could only manage a pair of free throws, while the Wildcats made six free throws and a layup to seal the victory.

Let's hope that this game is the spark that the Cats need for the rest of the Pac-10 season.  Could this game have awoken a sleeping giant?