NEW YORK - Texas A&M looked like they had managed to grab full control of the 2K Sports consolation game midway through the second half, as they opened up a 48-40 lead with just 10 minutes remaining.
But the Johnnies had a run in them, tying the game at 52 on a D’Angelo Harrison jumper and eventually taking a 55-54 lead at the 4:23 mark on a pair of Nurideen Lindsey free throws. That was the last time that St. John’s would look comfortable at the free throw line, however, as A&M got an MVP performance out of their best FT defender: Anna Cate Kennedy.
Better known as head coach Billy Kennedy’s daughter.
“Last year she did it all the time,” Mary, Billy’s wife and Anna Cate’s mom, said. “I guess this is her first day back.”
On every free throw St. John’s took in the last four minutes, Anna Cate would let out an ear-splitting scream that could be heard on TV. She was sitting in the second row, even with the foul line and well within earshot of the St. John’s shooters considering how empty the Garden was for the game. The Johnnies missed six of their last eight free throws, including two from Lindsey with 2.3 seconds left and St. John’s down one.
“She’s got a pretty good percentage,” Mary said.
She sure does.
(The second video, if you can’t tell, is the final two free throws of the game.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @ballinisahabit.