welcome back to downtown los angeles staples center and l.a. live in the heart of hollywood. the pacific life pac-10 tournament. tonight, the quest begins. who will step up, meet the challenge and exceed their expectations? which team will rise together to spirit that is unbreakable? caption funding provided by fox sports net ♪

the excitement begins. washington state, oregon, the winner stays alive. >> don: four days of action here at the pacific life pac-10 tournament and an it all starts tonight. the iet and nine game between the oregon ducks and washington state cougars. the ducks swept the season series against washington state. can they make it three in a row and advance to the second round? welcome inside staples center. there's the trophy that all the teams are playing for here at

the pacific life pac-10 tournament. i'm michael lee. miles simon, miles, the season was one of the more competitive we've seen and we think the tournament will be the same way? >> absolutely. there's a lot on the line for the teams. high stakes. seeding just getting into the ncaa tournament, a lot of action will be packed into these four days. >> let's talk about the four days and the matchups. we look at pacific life pac-10 tournament bracket again. we start tonight with the eight-nine game. thursday, four games starting noon pacific one ucla/arizona, the top seed cal bears get the winner of tonight's game and then the evening session, stanford/arizona state. the seven-two matchup, stanford/arizona state will be the first. let's's talk about tonight. oregon have won three of their last four. they say they're going to win.

>> klay thompson arguably the best player in the lead was third in scoring and 19 points a game. he can put up a huge number in a flash. >> does he have to carry the team to victory? >> klay thompson has to carry the cougars. he's their most dominant scorer. if he gets it going on the offensive end it builds up 'everybody's confidence. >> he's got 19.6 points a game. when we return here at the staples center, we'll go around the country to see the other conference tournaments under way. the big 12, the big east. who will get the big seeds in the ncaa tournament? what about this game? washington state/oregon? can oregon play its way into the tournament you're watching the pacific life pac-10 tournament. what c tel abell en enriasol

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able to accomplish. at 5'6" he's second-all time in the pac-10 conference in three three-pointers. he's been dangerous his entire career. once he goes past half-court he's open and has range out to 25 or 26 feet. he changes the look of the game because he gets them in bunches. he's unbelievable for oregon and he's had success here in the pac-10 tournament. >> you and i saw saw klay thompson. he lit the cal bears up. he had 23 in the first half. >> don: what i like about him. he's putting it on the deck more this year. getting to the rim more and seeing really good defense. he averaged 25 in the preseason coming into the regular season schedule. but if washington state's going to make a run in this tournament, klay thompson has

got to get it going. >> barry: he's averaged 28 points a game. and the two games he played against the duck this is year and for more on that, here's rebecca harlow. >> i sat down with him last night and he said, it's not about personal accolades. he said moving to this team twice hurts. expect us to come out with a vengeance. i think we can expect a very physical gym tonight. >> barry: let's look at the starting lineup. shonga deangelo and klay thompson, marcus kay pers and the talented freshman, reggie moore. and coach ken bone, he's changed his philosophy.

>> barry: he has the i thinkest team in the league. have no doubt ken bones will get it going up there. >> don: freshman with the oregon ducks. and jeremy jacob and his team has been better since jeremy jacob has moved into the starting lineup. tajuan porter and malcolm armstead will play the gord. ernie kemp has been under siege but we said, and it's the truth, if confidence wins then they'll win. >> barry: he's a victim of his own success. you hear about the rumors, he had so much success in oregon. they were 2-16 last year and 7-11 this year, he's the one that raised the expectations by getting his team not only to win in this getting into the ncaa tournament. >> barry: here's a pacific life pac-10 game matchup. >> reggie moore terrific freshman. the only starting point guard in

the conference pl malcolm armstead started the most games and played the most minutes for oregon. this is a really good matchup with armstead and moore. moore will help his team a lot if he could take the pressure off of klay thompson. >> don: he's come up big in the scoring column already this year. with that we're about set to get started here. >> don: reggie moore came out of a talented recruiting class. >> barry: the oregon ducks went to a zone halfway through the year. they'll mix it up. but the zone has been more effective for them in guarding peep. they've won three of their last four. washington state on a three-game losing streak. let's see who can set the tempo early. >> don: it's important for thompson and porter and their respective teams to get some help. he's one of those guys that --

he's third on washington state's team in scoring. >> don: their getting out and down to the glass early. not a sellout here at the staples center. if you want to get your team on a roll, e.j. helps his team with a three-pointer. >> don: you mentioned it, barry. it's nice when you get it from the other people. that will free stuff up for the other guys if the second dare guys can make some baskets here ear early. complies right out of the gate. no hesitation and he knocks it down. >> barry: you have to respect him going to the ebasket. >> don: this year they do. you're right, barry. this year he's showing the

ability to put it down one or two dribbles to get it into the paint. >> barry: the foul is against the oregon ducks. >> don: one thing for washington state and klay thompson, you mentioned the game we did earlier in the year where he had 23 in the first half. it can go the other way. i mentioned it would help if reggie moore and some of these other guys got going. if thompson gets going early, now it opens it up to the other guys so we'll see how that plays out. >> barry: he pulls it up and scores. >> don: oregon is showing different looks on top of that two-three zone but they're not getting out it to wings in time. >> barry: washington state looking to see if reggie moore is really good in transition.

>> don: to thompson. a pullup and -- >> barry: he shot 21 free throws the first time these two teams played. the first game of the season in the pac-10 and knocked down 19 of them. that's the one thing about expanding his game. when you become a more complete offensive player, you have to be able to draw fouls. when you draw fouls you do that by putting it on the deck. i'm so impressed with his development over the summer. he came back a different and more complete offensive player. >> don: thompson is getting the kind of start that ken bone would have hoped for. >> barry: he has good size for his position. he's probably 6'6" or 6'7". >> don: the biggest lead by washington state in the two previous games is right now. off the window, and he's being

agentlemen 1i6 early. he wasn't in the scouting across the top, barry. >> don: you and i saw him in the game against! >> barry: he's that guy. he'll never be a huge scorer in oregon. >> don: the basket is uncontested. capers climbing the heard on the defensive line. oregon has to get out to the shooters and contest. you can't let t dr the ush : we bac

>> don: 7:24 to be played here. first game of the pac-10 tournament. a very balanced conference over the course of time. you can see all the different conference champions we've had here. look at that. >> barry: i was going to say that's what i like. not a lot of number-one seeds that win. obviously, cal isn't coming in this year. we talked about in the open, the unexpected captains in this tournament. >> don: this year more than any other. i really believe that this is there for the taking. whoever gets it right, in this case, four games. >> barry: washington state

finished in last place in the conference. >> don: that's to the cougars. cougars shooting the ball lights out by comparison with what they've done against this team '. >> barry: what i liked about washington state early is the balance. they get it to different people. also, some jumpers with last possession, capers on the dribble drive to the rim. if they can continue to keep that balance we'll be going pretty good. their 4 for 4 from the floor. >> don: and came in shooting 36% against oregon. >> barry: we'll see oregon's defense starting up in a little bit. a little flat early on. not quick enough getting out the shooters and as i mentioned, no rotation with capers taking that baseline easily and dunking it. he hangs on to the ball pretty we well. he led the league in blocks.

>> don: the pass was intend for the other end. it got a little lost. >> barry: we mentioned the improving offense. but this is what he does be

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>> don: the oregon coach remembers the last game. that's when their team was led to their first-ever title. the trojans on that day, 74-66. he had 18 points in the ball game and he last dished out nine assists. he was named the tournament mvp. >> it was a fun opportunity to play against top-level competition night in and night out was something i'll always remember. >> don: the past oregon tournament 'mvps we just talked

about tajuan 'porter and luke and his career in the nba. he was back in 2007 and he came up huge in that event. >> barry: and ridnour, he used to get the ball down the floor. that was when oregon's team really used to run. but porter obviously, has had a lot of success at oregon. you see there, he's the active pac-10 heat her scoring. you mentioned he's second place all-time in career three-pointer. just past five of stottlemyer. let's see if he can do it in this tournament. >> don: sigler is 6 of 8. >> barry: he was voted mvp freshman. if he can just score a little bit more early tonight. >> don: it's playing with great

confidence, this starting lineup is. >> barry: and he had a lot of success. probably a first-rounder. duke will probably catch that last number-one seed. don't you think, barry? >> barry: i think so. >> don: i think all four of them will be very tough. tajuan porter has been quiet. he tried to flip it up and capers got a hand on it. >> barry: it's like washington state in the painted area is contesting everything so far. >> don: casto is -- he flipped on his heels and now we're going to get a foul. right now with more on deangelo casto here, is rebecca harlow. >> you mentioned that with deangelo casto his offense is beginning to follow his defense. i caught up with him before the game and i asked him what he's

done to improve his game offensively. he said, actually, it's been a lot of ball movement and dribbling. he's been trying to dribble the ball with two or three different balls all summer but he gained a lot of confidence in new zealand. >> don: he's improving greatly. cougars have, incidentally, if 15th youngest team in america. >> barry: the inconsistency. a lot of teams in the pac-10 are inconsistent. why? a lot of young players. >> don: here comes moore. >> barry: you better not leave him in the coroner reason the cigarettes. if he gets his feet down and has that much time he'll probably make it. >> don: he's going the other way. eight points for klay thompson. >> barry: washington state with a 5-4 lead. they look a little bit sharper

here. looking to push it. dunnigan. he caught it in traffic. tough catch goes up and finishes. morgan needs to capitalize on those. >> don: it's a foul before the shot and a push on does dunnigan. he knew what to do with it. dunnigan, a former mcdonald's all-american. a lot of expectation for him. but, again, the upside is still

there and i think he'll have a terrific year coming back next year. >> don: it's just a question of when it all clicks for him. moore had a look and passed it up. now moore with another opened look and this time he pulls the trigger be he comes up short. dunnigan gets the long rebound. >> barry: in the past, once oregon went to the zone they were trapping the wings and trying to turn people over. they're leaving them open tonight. >> don: armstead tried to lead for dunnigan but dunnigan wasn't covering the basket. >> barry: armstead assuming dunnigan would roll to the rim similar to the last play we just showed. and dunnigan probably -- that's probably what he was supposed to do. go to the front of the rim, catch it and dunk it. >> don: ten turnovers in this ball game so far. we're just getting started here. six for the cougars and four for

the ducks. >> barry: washington state is getting what they want. >> don: freshman from australia -- that's what i was talking about. they trapped klay thompson on the wings. that's what they've been successful doing. creating havoc on the wings and getting people to turn it over. >> barry: the oregon guys, longmeyer. it's out of bound and the ducks keep it at 15:00 on the shot clock. >> last saturday, he never scored. you got to believe he'll get it going here at some point. >> barry: with 15:00 on the shot clock. and he's got six. that's a two. >> don: how quickly does he get it away off the dribble? he's 5'6" so he's lower to the

ground but that was a tough shot that he knocked down. >> barry: he's 1 for 3, and when he gets it going, look out. another turnover. eighth turnover already in the first 8:07 of this ball game for the washington state cougars. a little dead in the water after grabbing an early seven-point lead. 11:53 left. we'll be back.

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>> don: we're back. klay thompson, eight points early but all of a sudden the ducks are paying more attention. around that's what we talked to ernie kent about. >> we've played him and he missed some shots. he got to the foul line way too much when we played them at

their place. we've got to do a good job. he's good at getting in the lane and drawing fouls. we've adjusted some things defensively to hopefully take that away from his game because he's a terrific player and he can get on a roll and he hits unbelievable shots so you got to

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>> don: we're back we're getting ready for the halftime report. miles, this game has been about momentum swing? >> miles: you're right. the ducks have weathered the storm and e.j. is getting it together for the ducks. >> michael: let's see if oregon can do what they did in the middle half and get a decent score going into the half.

>> barry: this game is still very much up for grabs. >> don: early on they looked floot and washington state was getting whatever they wanted an oregon brought up their level. they started to turn them over and they crept back in. down four now, but you know, washington state has turned it over way too many. some forced, some unforced. >> barry: one thing washington state is doing is shooting the three-ball very well. they were 11 of 45 against oregon for the regular season and 24%. tonight, their 4 of their first 7. >> you see tajuan porter taking him down to the baseline. another turnover for washington state. five-second call on the ball. reggie moore turns it over. >> barry: too many turnovers. that's ten. >> don: they got marcus karps on tajuan porter figuring that the lengths will really bother porter.

>> barry: not that time. >> don: when he gets his feet down and we talked about this all year, barry. his range is unlimited. you don't think he'll pull it where he throws it from. you don't think to get out to his range. >> barry: for him that's a good shot. >> don: absolutely. >> barry: klays guarded by the smarl cougars right now up top. thompson, good look. didn't go. gives the cougs a second chance. pass on the double-team and he pulls it up for three and had a good luck but it's short. >> don: for thompson, i like him being aggressive. when you're the team's best player you got to score. speaking of the other team's best player and they need to score, this is exactly what tajuan porter does. he gets them going in bunches. a 9-0 run for oregon. >> barry: you side the operable word. he gets them in bunches."

we've seen them go an entire half like that. >> don: the complexion of the game changes and he admits, porter ahead to williams and deangelo. he gets it. what a finish. >> don: we talked about changing the complexion of the game. the game opens up when tajuan porter gets

life pac-10 tournament summary. not much no summarize yet but the winner of this game will play the top seed, the california golden bears. ! and arizona. stan in order and arizona and then oregon state and the washington huskies. a lot of people feel the huskies are -- >> don: a lot of people feel that way. a quick turn for either of these teams. it's never been easy. if you play on wednesday and have to play early the next day. >> barry: a great no-call. williams kind of handled that and he's got a man -- the rebound and into the hands of armstead. >> don: er.

with porter making three's it ignites this team. washington state is back on their heels. oregon now the aggressor donl from a seven-point deficit to a lead. another turnover. porter controls it. finally, ca o reggie moore make the pass. >> barry: that breaks a long dry spell of the koigs. >> don: how many times do we see them turn that over with no passes? good execution. capers with no doubt at the end of the play. >> barry: good recognition by moore to know where the trailer was. 3:00 dry spell for the washington state cougars. >> don: as i mentioned earlier,

we're going to get a -- this is a grabbed foul against the ducks. and singler's second foul. and porter, after making a couple is down here. up top. guarded by -- capers and he gives it to thompson behind the double screen. capers puts it on the floor and gets it out and motum can't finish and casto can. >> don: one pass too many for washington state but they got it up on the rim and got an offensive rebound putback. >> don: the cougs have turned things around again. >> barry: it's interesting. the ebb and flow.

in postseason the emotions are higher and the level of play rises up. if you don't want you go home. these teams recognize, hey, if we don't win tonight, we're not playing anymore. you see them come back more quickly than you do on the regular season. >> barry: casto gets it to singler around a foul. they're at the free-throw line. a foul on humphrey, his first. and a time-out on the floor. a look at the scoreboard with 3:42 remaining to be played in irs a ith d fl

pacific life pac-10 tournament brought to you by -- >> don: we talked about what a key player tajuan porter was for the oregon ducks. he's done his job as as klay

thompson. porter is back-to-back a moment ago before missing and he's sneaking up on stottlemyer who is the all-time shooting leader in the pac-10. >> barry: just when you think you got them one fly from sudden he gets take look at the career leaders in pac-10 history. needs to he can get two more tonight

, concentration to knock it down and porter, obviously, the savvy one. he goes right to the body and washington takes the hit. >> barry: and a great free-throw shooter as well. he's got 11 in the ball game and he's been as advertised. the biggest lead in the game for the oregon ducks with 32 seconds

remaining. >> don: washington state needs a hoop on this last possession. 14-0 retuun for the ducks. oregon will hold the ball. >> barry: that's a good start for washington state. the difference has been oregon picked up the level defensively and porter, again, sparked them with two three's. austin -- yes. >> don: big-time shot. narrows the lead to five as we come to the end of the first half and both thompson and porter were exactly as advertised. washington state leads at 22-15 and then oregon came back with a 22-10 run to close the half over the last eight minutes. 37-32, ducks. rebecca harlow is with ernie kent. >> how do you make sure you see that energy and consistency over the whole second half? >> keep pressing and keep the

pressure defense. that's the whole key for us is defensively. we get the pressure and we have great energy. >> klay thompson put up points early. you've been able to contain him in the back half. are you liking the pressure you're putting on him? >> i am. we got to do a good job of keeping the ball out of his hands and double-teaming him. >> a five-point ball game. we'll head over to michael eves and the acura halftime report. >> thanks, rebecca. here's with miles simon, it was a change of momentum for both teams in that first half but oregon with the lead taking into the break. exciting action here in the first half. we'll break it down for you coming up in a few moments. and a tremendous finish in th ea

welcome back to the the "acura halftime report." the ducks got hit early. michael dunigan inside there and the ducks have a five-point lead over washington state. let's go to the big east. an exciting statement. bear cats are storming back. gates with a jam. he had 16 and rick pitino not pleased and he wouldn't be pleased with this either. edgar sotrdby with a three-point win ov the cardinals. you look at the quarterfinal matchups. how about syracuse sloesh georgetown? and also, pittsburgh/notre dame. exciting games to be played at madison square garden. but you look at some of the upsets that we've seen so far in these early conference tournaments, miles, with

missouri going down and does that not bode pell for them to get more teams in the tournament? >> absolutely. if arizona state and washington can handle their business tomorrow night and get into the conference semifinal tournament on friday night and play against each other, now missouri and louisville get put on that bubble and go a little bit lower. >> you look at the three tomorrows from the pac-10, they played better down the stretch than louisville, missouri and texas from the big 12. plenty more to come here in the "acura halftime report." we have little ducks and little koigs. you're watching the "acura halftime report." we hams h coast arrest bus onts lay llas s reants forels. los ants pl sha air f fran.. s reants for ashiss )

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the pacific life pac-10 tournament brought to you in part by -- we're back here in los angeles. first game under way. will washington state or oregon play themselves into the quarterfinal matchup.

ucla and arizona. oregon state/washington here at oregon state/washington here at the pacific life pac-10

>> the acura halftime report executing the three on one fast

break to perfection with capers ending it with a big jam. but his team trail the ducks by five. they lost two games to oregon during the regular season. michael aefs and miles here in the staples center. miles, what are you looking forward to? what does washington state have to do to turn this around? >> washington state has to cut down on the turnovers. they had 11 first half turnovers what led to oregon's ten transition points. they need to get klay thompson involved. he had eight early points. but then for the oregon ducks they need to continue to find tajuan porter. he's had ten shot attempts already for his 11 points. >> it seems like a momentum change. i guess whoever gets the first momentum late will probably pull in one out? >> absolutely. but i think oregon's experience and their zone defense is giving them problems. >> they've played their best basketball leading into the pacific life pac-10 tournament. can they do it?

in the second half, we're coming back with more here in the "acura halftime report." you're watching pacific life pac-10 tournament.

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at the end of the half, he may have gotten not only him but washington state's momentum heading into the second half. >> barry: oregon is shooting well at 52%. washington state at 41%. and we take you right now to rebecca harlow once more before the start of the second half. >> rebecca: i caught up with head coach ken bone and asked him what he needs to change about the second half with washington state and he said it's the turnovers. when oregon ups the intensity on defense, they got sloppy with the ball. all they need to do is clean it up so it can have more options on the offensive end. defensively, he wants more pressure and wants them to take away the paint from oregon. >> barry: thanks, rebecca. i think it's significant that he had 10 of the 11 turnovers in the first nine minutes. >> don: when they pressure the zone and double the ball, washington state has to be stronger with the ball and make better decisions. that's knocked out of bounds. >> barry: moore thought armstead

might have touched it but it will remain oregon ball with 22:00 on the shot clock. >> don: if you're washington state you turned it over 11 times and down by five. you obviously did some good things in the first half. >> barry: armstead on a screen that time. to longmire and then -- >> don: those are the unforced errors that we see during the course of the season. now that we're in the postseason you can't afford them. it's "win or go home." every possession matters. you can't afford to have that. this is moore. we're here starting in the second half. capers has the basket and then, casto again. >> don: nice by tompkins. but casto, his ninth offensive rebound in the game.

>> barry: the post defense for washington state has been excellent. it goes off the leg of jacob and out of bounds. >> don: ernie kent, he had a pretty good first half. you let klay thompson get the three at the end of the first half but now you start this half with two turnovers on two possession possessions. ss thompson to long pier. especially capers. he's been all over the offensive board all night. >> barry: a time-out quickly called by ernie kent. he's trying to fix whatever it is that's broke for the oregon is that's broke for the oregon ducks.

>> rebecca: welcome back to staples center where oregon has a 37-36 lead at the close of the ball game. one guy who has a lot of support is klay thompson. yes, that's right. his father, michael thompson is in the house, of course, michael thompson, former all-american, storied career with the lakers and blazers. here's klay. >> he's not going to tell you how good you are every day. but he's a good critic. he's not too hard on you and he knows what he's talking about. that's just good to hear from and his advice really helps. that's helped me grow a lot as a player. >> rebecca: you heard klay say, "yes my dad knows what he's talking about." i asked him what was the best advice he ever got from his dad. he said it's hard to work hard. you have to remember you love

the game. klay said every once in a while he stops and takes a moment to appreciate that he loves the game of basketball and that's coming from his dad, michael. >> barry: i think his dad just has to say "do as i did." >> don: michael has a defensive presence. klay, perimeter score extraordinary. casto. this is how the first half started. washington state was up and into it, you see casto and he gets two free throws. oregon at one point during that first half, turned it around and brought their level up. but this is the same way the game started. washington state getting stops. getting turnovers and scores on

the other end. baca to at the free-throw line and -- casto at the free-throw line and that's it. >> don: 18:00 to go. post-season. winner go home. >> barry: he's the win who flipped it around in the first half. the elbow and there you go. when you're struggling, and you have to stop the bleeding you go to your senior. that wasn't a three. a pull-up two. nonetheless, your senior guard getting you on the board here in the second half. the defense has been really

quiet. casto and loose ball by porter. he pushes it the other way and then it's picked up. capers gets it out of bounds.

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the winner will go on to play the top seed, california golden bears tomorrow afternoon. compounded by the fact that it's a short tournament. two games tomorrow. cal, winners of four in a row coming in so they have momentum. washington also has won four in a row. and they're the one team that's of the big three, the top three finishers in the league that will probably need to win the most. cal we think is already in the ncaa tournament. arizona state probably needs to win one tomorrow at least. but washington probably needs to win at least two, to get themselves in the ncaa tournament. a good rally for coach lorenzo romar. i expect to see a great effort from washington tomorrow. >> barry: i do, too. they've won 9 tab nine of their 11. up and into it defensively.

they're pretty good. they're athletic enough and have enough skill that they are in position to score. they got to get stopped. porter, a good look. talking about skill, at certain positions, your 5'6" point guard making plays off the dribble. 18 for porter. he's been the mvp of this tournament before. averaged 20 a game in 2007 to get that tournament mvp. shot 62% from behind the three-point line this that tournament month tum can't get up on it. he's able to get moore in his second. they played pretty well to get the tournament mvp when another guy on your team in that tournament goes for 34 and doesn't miss a shot. you must have had a heng of a tournament to overcome that and get the mvp. >> i scored 61 points in that

tournament. one thing about ernie kent, he's always emphasized this tournament. it's always been really important to him. mike montgomery was never a big fan of it but ernie has always emphasized it. >> don: and you can tell. last year they came off a 2-16 year and he mentioned it in a sound byte we used earlier. he embraces it. he likes it. he likes coming down here. he had success this year. he swept the l.a. schools in the regular season. no surprise that oregon's got a lead here in this one tonight. >> barry: ken bones will take a time-out trying to get his ship rited because it just has not been. we had a chance to sit down and chat with ernie kent about his senior leader, tajuan porter who has given him everything tonight. here's what he said. >> all he's done at his four years in oregon would be the

lead. he got us back to the tournament the next year. these two down years and he'll end up one of the greatest scorers in the history of university of oregon and years. retty impressive his f a 36 freshman. tajuan porter. his next one will tie stottlemyer for the record. two more and he has the all-time pac-10 report. >> you can tune in tomorrow for the arizona game and realize he doesn't have the pac-10 record porter is fifth all-time on oregon's career scores list. so not just three points in general. had a terrific career at oregon. >> barry: i think they're wave

this shot off? >> michael: a little token pressure here in oregon. they'll drop back into if zone. >> barry: that's the one he's got to have. when he has faith and time and -- space and time and when oregon looses him, he's going to have plenty of tries that are more difficult. but the opened ones he has to knock down. this is right back to a five-point game. don't go anywhere yet. the stars are shining for both teams. take a chance. longmire in traffic and couldn't get it over the rim. jacob puts it back. >> barry: oregon is beating washington state at their own game. extra possession. at least, the two-point basket and a travel on motum. 15th turnover for the cougs.

>> barry: washington state can't afford oregon getting on their board and getting extra possessions. their defense has been pretty good most of the night. when you're down and down by seven, you got to get those defensive rebounds. >> barry: howard -- he passed capers and -- not as strong. down low. casto has to get back in there. good play that time. >> don: not as much transition for washington state. that's how they got the lead. watson with a good look at three and not a good-looking shot. in the corner, opened for humphrey and he scores. he's a straight shooter. >> barry: he can do that. he's had some big games with three's for oregon.

two big threes's to steal the lead. >> barry: they had their biggest lead by ten. 11:06 remaining in the ball game and another turnover. the ducks will have it. they already have equalled their biggest lead. they have a chance to extend that. oregon right now doing everything right, trying to get out of this playing game and get into the pac-10 conference tournament. we're coming back. wir sabe eto fundreti? whl haf youse ou youny y wilen ioutl sav cifi knot tomo que replanoday palifehe fal soluand th heland ial sion dea pl .the to succ

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don ducks lead by eight but the cougs not going anywhere. tajuan porter, player of the game so far. >> barry: he got 22. he's 9 of 19. but coming out in the second half and he hadn't been doing it from behind the line. it's been inside the line in the second half. i think he's starting to realize that washington state is going to run out to the three-point line and he can put it on the deck and get inside.

>> barry: look at him with one of the greats of all times. anthony taylor, luke jackson with big-time scorer for four years at oregon and ron lee who played with ernie kemp. >> not the guys at 5'6'fths that can't play basketball, those are lofty numbers. top five in who are gone history in scoring and will probably become the pac-10 all-time leading three-point shooter in career three's made. porter's accomplished a lot in oregon. baca to at the free-throw line comes up short. now 3 of 7, casto from the foul line. porter, incidentally, has not had great games against washington state historically. he averaged under 14 a game. in a nine-game korea against the cougs and 22 for tonight. so he did have 31 in the first meeting this year. that will bring your average up. what was he before that game?

11 or something? >> barry: taylor is buster out. porter on the bench for the moment and derrick's got the ball. he plays a lot of guys. 11 guys on the oregon team average 16 minutes or more. they use the clock and singular scored with about :00 on the shot clock. he's gotten a lot of contributions tonight from a lot of different guys. that's the value of playing a lot of different guys early. you've got a chance to play them. they haven't been sitting a lot. he's fwlokd behind and cblocked.

oregon is trying to pressure the ball. they had reggie moore strung out to half-court. if you can make the extra pass, they've gotten a ton of stuff on the baseline in the second half and that time, casto's motum has been getting most of them but that time, they need to take extra pass and not turn it over. they've gotten a lot of stuff at the rim. >> barry: eight different oregon play verse scored but only five cougs have scored. a turnover, no? it's back in the hands of williams. it won't go. thompson finally gets it in there for washington state. he lines it up but he misses. capers, how many times has he done that this year? capers on the weak side, follows with a two-hand dunk. terrific athlete. long arms. he's got 12 in the ball game. that one with his left hands.

they can't match baskets with oregon. they've got to get some stops. oregon still has a nine-point lead. oregon really looking to force the issue. you'd think at this juncture they'd be looking to pull it back a little bit. >> barry: i think they're in the "nothing to lose" mode. >> don: it sure appears that way. they've got six in the second half with that three. he's going to have to be big this last six minutes. washington state is going to close the gap. >> barry: the cougs with just hanging around. a good look for three. rebound knocked out to thompson, a long rebound. he's going to wait pore help -- no, he's not! how do you like that? >> don: a one-possession game. big shot. we talked about porter and

thompson. he's got two big three's to get washington state back in it. >> barry: a 9-2 early run for the cougars, trying to stop the bleeding here. that one was a tough one. he had no help. let's look at the plays. klay thompson, they spent a lot of time on him all night. they know where he's at all times. they lost track of him that time. they needed to have that

from too far away. nikola koprivica, singular might have bothered him. nikola koprivica stays and waits for the foul. he'll have two foul shots. nikola koprivica at the free-throw line. he's a 5% free-throw shooter. that's the first. he makes it a two-point ball game with 4:50 remaining. dunigan comes back and longmire comes back for the oregon ducks. >> don: you don't win games in the postseason. you knew washington state would come back. these games are all tight. >> barry: we knew they were happening around. another turnover but a reach-in foul first. not yet a shooting situation. neither team in the bonus and washington state only with three fouls, they may want to think

about getting near that bonus in case they need to start fouling and stopping the clock. they got to foul three more times -- four more times before they put oregon on the line. >> don: with 4:48 remaining they could be a little more aggressive on the defensive end. >> barry: if i'm ken ba if you break pressur got numbers, to

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points. a 19-6 run for the cougars and they still only lead by three. >> barry: eternity. 1.20 in a one-possession game, both teams are just lighting it up beyond the arc. >> barry: noiks it looked like he was going in there tying to foul him but not necessary in a one-possession game with that much time left. so an important free throw here for koprivisa. it remains a one-to session game. porter hasn't been able to get anything going the last couple of possessions. let's see what he does now. that will go behind the screen and porter to the basket. o he keeps it alive and humphrey controlling it. misses with the left hand and

thompson gets it. >> barry: great by capers. tip to thompson. knew he couldn't bring it down, tipped it to the other side and porter hadn't scored in seven minutes and he's the guy you would have thought would have been scoring a lot coming down the home stretch here. thompson tripped and he'll go to the free-throw line. >> don: the little things you see in a game, and marcus capers, in traffic, tipping that ball out to klay thompson. a big play, got washington state possession of that ball. so it's moore at the line. even though thompson missed the front end of a one-on-one two times now, those things come back to haunt you. 41 seconds. about 11 seconds between the shot clock and the play clock. porter throws it for three. no, but a second chance. he runs it down. 28, 27. a time-out called by ernie kent. they didn't need a three. they can still go for two.

they can still go for two and then foul. >> don: eight scoreless minuteses now for porter and they have plenty of time. 27 seconds. and you're right. they still don't have possession. >> barry: you got washington state going to the foul line. and they, you know, haven't been actually knocking them down at that foul line tonight. so if i'm ernie kent, i'm considering going for a quick two, and then putting washington state on the line. >> barry the postseason is a factor. it's already become a factor but it will become a factor in who decides the game. >> barry: the winner of this game won't have it's easy. they have to play the number one seed, regular-season conference championship, the california

golden bears tomorrow at 2:30. whoever gets that will be happy they're there. the alternative is not good. if you're playing tonight, that means you didn't do enough to deserve a break to play on thursday. that's all right for oregon. sometimes you play the one game and you're sharper than the team that didn't play. we've seen that happen a lot. >> barry: free throws could be the ultimate story of the game. oregon hadn't missed a free throw. they haven't been there much but they haven't missed one. washington state has missed nine free throws. >> don: this game would be over if washington state has knocked out a lot of those free throws. some of those were front end. >> barry: see what coach ernie kent talked about at the time-out. he's trying to get port her position for a big three?

>> barry: armstead back to porter and you got 13 on the shot clock. porter takes a look at it and a foul on thompson. that's a good foul. >> barry: i don't know if that was intentional or not but -- they still got a foul one more time to put him in the bonus. i think that was intentional, barry. inning they were letting the clock go down before they foul. you got to be careful. they can't be going up to shoot and getting three free throws. again, that's going to be a foul before the shot, i believe. they're going say he's going to shoot. porter is a real good foul shooter coming in. it probably doesn't matter but the decision by washington state to foul, that's up for debate. everybody has their own choice. and more often than not you see

teams not foul and what happens? the other team makes the big three. i'm a proponent of -- put them on the line. if -- they know when the foul and when not to foul. if the guy's going into his jumper you don't foul. even if tajuan porter makes the free throw, you're still up by one and they haven't tied the game. and now a time-out called by ken bone to discuss the last 8.5 seconds of this game. the best port ker do is to leave the free-throw line with a deficit. and washington state, remember, is not shot particularly well from the free-throw line. >> don: and ken bones probably talking about we're assuming tajuan porter is going to make this. let's design something to get our better free throw shooters the ball. >> barry: the last two front ends they mission missed which noiks and thompson, and thompson, he was up higher

earlier. but you got to believe that that's where they're going with the ball. either nikola koprivica or reggie moore. or thompson. baca to, they don't want to get the ball to him. we started this game tonight talking about him being an improving offensive player. but he makes his money on the defensive end, blocking shots and rebounding and he was on full display here tonight. no reason why washington state has the lead right now, he's the reason. the last-minute plans being drawn up by both coaches. washington state still has a time-out to use if they need it. oregon is out of time-outs. both team in a 1-1 situation. it's interesting how every year, even though the people are different and the teams are

different, it always seems to kind of look the same. one team gets a lead and the other comes storming back and then you got to make free throws at the end. teams playing with desperation. that's the biggest thing in the postseason. teams play with that sense of urgency and desperation. >> barry: importanter gets them both. calling a time-out. they give it to moore and moore will be fouled almost immediately with 7.6 seconds remaining to be played. the good news for oregon, even if reggie moore makes both of these, you still got a chance to tie which the plenty of time, 7.6. >> barry: plenty of time. moore's only been to the free-throw line one time. he's an 80% shooter but he's missed his only attempt with the front end of it. just 40 seconds to go. >> barry: and this is the front end. >> don: don't go anywhere.

>> barry: confident kid. step up and knock it down. plenty of time. 7.6 seconds and now can be wen bone will call his last time-out. oregon has no time-outs remaining. they'll have to go. but ken bone called the time-out, ernie kent will have a chance to draw something up. >> don: to he's going to assume rejs going to knock the second one down so he'll set it up to make it difficult. you know oregon is going to put the ball in tajuan porter's hand. i think the clock is deep enough where you have to go for three. not snuff you have enough time for a quick foul. i think you got to have a three now. porter is probably the most likely candidate and washington state wants to make it difficult for oregon to get it up the floor and it be a contested three for porter, o or whoever

look. not a clean look at it. >> barry: i'm sure they'll play him hard. oregon, not a stranger to winning this pac-10 tournament. a long shoth but they've won it twice. arizona, four-time winner. ucla, three. second free throw try for moore. 7.6 seconds remaining. a two-point lead and he missed it and a loose ball, finally is going to be run down. it's an oregon ball with 5.5. still plenty of time. >> barry: capers almost got that on the offensive rebound. way short by here and capers tapped at it but oregon got it. no time-outs. they got to go the length of the floor. they have enough time to get it to -- they got to let porter catch. porter takes it all the way and to miller and -- too hard -- he

scores! i think it will count! i think it will count! referee says, yes, it's good. they'll look at it to make sure but i believe it will be good. >> barry: they called it a basket so they'll go and review it. take a look. tips it. what a play porter take the it all the way. and look as we thought washington state was going the win this but over the back and he gets it with some overtime? singler with a big-time tip. and you know, ken bones is going to have nightmares about the ten

free throws that his team missed. tie game year time. coming up.

>> don: welcome back. i'm don mcclain. we'll play five more minutes between oregon and washington state. here's the last sequence. porter did the right thing. he got the ball and just put his head down. figured, i can make something happen by making the shot myself or just put it up on the rim, singler, the man on the spot, tip in for the tie. let's go to rebecca harlow. >> rebecca: i just talked about that time-out with ken bone and he was looking at the team and saying, "don't worry about it." we've dominated the last five minutes. we can do this here in the next five minutes. he has a lot of confidence in the team. but down on the other end there's a lot of clapping and a lot of intensity. oregon is thinking that the momentum is shifting their way

at this point as well. >> don: at least for the last 5.5 seconds. >> barry: what's ironic is washington state has 17 123i6 reowned by. oregon has ten. oregon got the one to send it to overtime. porter right to the basket. the momentum has shifted and porter gets the tip and goes straight to the backboard and knocks it in. porter with 26. each team has one time-out here in the overtime. and a loose ball knocked away by austin and to the basket over moore. if i were coach ken bone, i might want a quick time-out to settle this. two quick buckets for oregon, that tip-in gave them a lot of momentum. up four in overtime. moore outside and thompson is guarded by williams.

moore, for three. and capers and another offensive rebound and a putback. they've been unbelievable on the offensive board. that's his fifth offensive rebound and he has 16 in the game. he's a differencemaker for washington state. no question. tajuan porter around capers on him and now they switch. double clutches and comes up short. loose ball is run down and he lost it. i think that ball hit the rim

testi. the buzzer sounded like it was the shot clock. a pretty good defense by washington state. porter not being aggressive in the roll. singler got a quick pass-back to singler and he might have gotten a jumper. well, i'm not sure that it actually. did it? i don't know. it's hard to tell. the net didn't move. but it looked like it might have gotten the piece underneath that circle, that box underneath there. that's a v e call that these offials are going t have to make. it's a good officiating crew. i'm not sure that did touch the rim. if it did it hit the bottom of it. they're going to say it's a shot-clock violation.

nice job of appreciating. these guys have had their hands full. that one is too close to overturn. we looked at it five times and couldn't tell. so i think that's the right call by the officials. down two with the ball and 3:29 remaining in o.t. the winner plays the number one seed tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. we'll worry about that later. casto with deep position that time with the catching. good poise. doesn't rush it. gathers himself and goes up front. look at that, thompson, they're running at him and casto takes a dribble and goes up strong and takes the hit and finishes. armstead can't guard him down there. casto has to finish the play

with free throws. casto four attempts from the free-throw line. >> don: that will be singler's fifth personal foul so he won't be available any longer. coaches like to use a substitute as a mini time-out. use as much time as they need. longmire is going to come in for singler. we'll miss singler in the last 3:15. >> barry: he's made play this is year for oregon late in games. casto at the free-throw line trying to give him team the lead. as you said, 4 of 10. tied at 76.

switch for a moment. he misses the shot. good rebound for nikola koprivica. koprivica has come up huge in the later part of this game. deangelo casto on top and -- williams on top. nikola koprivica is at the free-throw line. he's looking for contact. he looks over his right shoulder with his left hand and knocked it down. a two-point lead, washington state. that took brains. tough shot for porter. off the balance again. we expected to see a little more catch and shoot out of him.

deep threes. in this second half, it's been a midrange game for him. 28 for porter. casto goes to the free-throw line again. nikola koprivica looking for contact. that gets williams in the air and still finishes the play and then, at 5'6", and capers at 6'5", can't bo get to it and porter knocks it down. >> barry: he goes back to the

line. he rattles that one in and gives this team the lead. 11 free throws in this game. the ducks haven't missed any. he's been a huge presence in the paint defensively and on that offensive board that was his sixth offensive rebound of the game. 1 of 2 in a one-point ball game, 1:32 remaining in ot. 11 of 23 from the line. rerecognized early in the half that they would run from behind the three-point line going to that mid range of a 15 to 17-foot area. porter by 30. moore behind the screen.

moore at the line. good play. i think the next step for moore next year, and he's obviously had a terrific freshman season. averaging 13 points a game. that right there, more of that, where he just squares a guy up with the dribble. beatings him and either looks to score himself or drops off the big kick out. sometimes this year he's been a little bit too passive. i say that because he has such tremendous ability and that ability to blow by, he needs to use it more. tie game, 1 of 2 for moore and we're tied at 80 and 45 seconds remaining in overtime. 13 seconds differential again, almost the exact same as regulation.

capers is reaching in he's one of the best free throw shooters in the league. into doubts that port her knock both of these down, seen this, been here before. been the mvp of the tournament before. season's on the line. if you don't win this you're going home. 3 of 3 tonight. porter, pure. washington state there's a .1 second differential. you want to run it down. you don't need to go quick to get the shot you want. give yourself enough time so if you miss, to foul oregon and put them on the line and have enough time to get back down the other way. porter is 8 of 10 in this

overtime. time-out called by ken bone. that's his only time-out of the overtime. 16.7 seconds left in overtime. oregon leads by two. it's washington state's basketball. we're coming back. whatou t shelogen en gas ey cp gut by lualiolin thy ac ectirier hiel otecines gunk. shtrogiched ne, lpinget st evep.

>> don: 82-80. the cougs will have the ball and a chance to tie or take the lead in this overtime period. here again are the brackets. the winner moves on tomorrow afternoon to play top-seeded california. ucla and arizona in the first game tomorrow. that gets under way at noon. stanford and asu at 6:00 and at 8:30, oregon state against third-seeded washington. so we mentioned it earlier about the quick turn-around. it's getting quicker as we go here. now almost 10:30 here on the west coast. and talking about 2:30 start

tomorrow. so a lot of adrenalin when you get into postseason, you know you have to win to stay alive and sometimes that overcome nis sort of fatigue that you might have. >> don: 16.7 seconds and the game is ready and only the shot clock is on. too much time run out and you've got to have time to foul if you don't make it. moore's going to have to force the shot and he misses it. 're gone is moving on. washington state is going home! oregon is moving on. not a bad look for reggie moore. i go back to regulation. singler to make the play to get night overtime and oregon hangs on. great ball game to open this pacific life pac-10 tournament. >> don: porter is fourth highest-scoring tournament in

history. reggie moore is 39. 'longmire is 37. shaul shawn elliott is the 32 that porter had tonight. what a win for the oregon ducks dobb. >> don: we talked about him in the open, to carry this team, he's had that ability his entire career to score and make three's in bunches. he did it again tonight. terrific second half for tajuan porter. and a terrific ball game. we'll see what oregon has left. i'd think the emotion of this game will drive them to tomorrow's game against california. oregon stays alive. washington state, tough end of the season for the cougs. they'll be going back to school. right now, rebecca harlow with ernie kent and tajuan porter bo. >> rebecca: down here with some stars. you have to be so proud of how

your team responded? >> it's extremely difficult to beat a team three times. i thought they battled like crazy. we hung in there. the overtime was big and i thought we did a great job down the stretch? this is the second time you've gone to overtime. what gave you the edge offensively to get the buckets you needed? >> if you look at history, we've been overtime probably about 80% of the time for the last nine years. to me we kind of gutted it out and they played a great game coming down the stretch. >> and ejooi singler. what about the. i-in? >> that's the third or fourth one he's had. a big bucket at a big-time in the game. that's what he does. he's really conscious of rebounding the basketball. >> and the value of tajuan porter, your star. talk about his poise down the stretch snee i compare him to brooks. he's the point guard. he takes the heat. he's the senior on the team. he's gotten beat up a lot this year but he'll go down as one of the greatest players in the history of oregon basketball. i love the guy.

it's unfortunate that people beat him up because they don't know how special that kid is. >> rebecca: one of the best players in oregon history. talk about the confidence that your coaches had in your all season long. >> he gave me confidence as soon as i walked in the door. aaron brooks couldn't start the first game so i played well and he kept me in the starting lineup and he's been confident in me from there on out. >> what was so impressive tonight was that you maintained so much composure and you put the team on your back down the stretch. tell me about your focus. >> i'm a senior. i've been in many different situations. i took what the defense gave me. penetrated and made good shots and my team came out with the victory. >> you took the game to overtime. you got to play again tomorrow. will this confidence booster give you the edge you'll need tomorrow? >> yeah. first game we blew it out of our system and now we know what to expect. all of us. we have a couple of young guys

on the too team. it's a four-game tournament. if we continue to win we'll have the advantage but we have a tough game tomorrow. >> to revisit the on 5 so who knows.

you're ander us for the pacific life pac-10 tournament qua five, ucla, meeting number four forn stanford against arizona state and we'll wroopt up withersi or number three, waon. 3:00 eastern, his game and personality were -- wilson, his game and personality were electric, a future star in the nba until one morning when everything changed. get an inside glimpse at the man the nfl mayors have chosen

to lead them in -- players have chosen to lead them in the fighnewtive rgaient. 'll uce emar ith. >> t our stin >> and a truy th abou inws tvie' hello and welcome to this edition of net impact. we've seen nfl commissioner roger goodell and nfl players association executive director demaris smith exchanging pleasantries through the media and have even been in front of

congress as the two sides attempt a collective bargaining agreement and as they do so the atmosphere will get more tense. we know goodell he's within on the job three years now but who is this man that the players have chosen to be their voice in this turbulent time? here's comcast sportsnet's mid- atlantic's jill sorenson. >> for our last practice we could play head coach. >> yea! >> we do head coach. >> reporter: this is fun for demaris smith the executive director of the nfl players association by day and a coach for his 10-year-old son allen and his baseball team in silver vince, maryland, by night. >> tag -- in silver springs, maryland, by night. >> tag him! >> reporter: the intensity and passion you see here is smith's day job as union smith named the successor to the late and edge legendary gene upshaw in march, the man everyone calls

dean has not slowed down. >> i've been on the job six months. i've probably been on the road three and a half, four months solid. >> reporter: he was seen as an outsider to get the job with former players as the front runners. his background as a trial lawyer was far from the experience of an nfl player. >> i definitely think that's a positive that he was an outsider, you know, guy coming in, he doesn't have all the connections or, you know, any preconceived notions of what was happening before and, you know, can he come in and kind of look at things clearly. >> i'm very confident. i'm confident, that you know, he can get things done, whatever that may be. he's presented himself in such a way and i think he's broken it down to the players in such a way that we can understand it. >> reporter: as much as he's an outsider d. is a d.c. insider having grown up a stone's throw from fedex field. >> you come out of the room in d.c. and get smacked and then you're injected with burgundy and gold. >> reporter: on his resume counsel to then deputy attorney general eric holder and he also

served on president obama's transition team. >> business worldwide in some way, shape or form always touches washington. it's one heck of a sports town. so yeah, those are things that are inextricably tied to who i am. does it affect what i do? probably. but hopefully affects it for the better. >> reporter: with the possible lockout on the horizon demorris smith has made it a priority to visit each team to help them understand the process. >> this was in one of the file drawers in our office and it slowly but surely i'm going through every drawer, every cabinet. >> reporter: why? >> a great deal of our history on what we have done internally to be a stronger union is there. the one thing i'm blessed about is gene was an incredible note taker. here on the back he'd clearly written out in longhand a speech that i don't know whether he gave or was going to give, but the most interesting part at the bottom is you see

it in quotes, the nfl has always been willing to take a short loss for a long term gain. >> reporter: in the midst of negotiations or perhaps because of them d. and the union have made national headlines on a regular basis. >> as executive director, my no. 1 priority is to protect those who play and have played this game. to me it is probably a little bit of a combination of half negotiation, half trial lawyer. i mean both of those things are things that are in my dna for some way, shape or form. i think about my grandfather in the pulpit. there's probably a little bit of that, too. as a result, i'm really not afraid of my question. i want guys to be actively involved. truth be told, i probably lean on them in a very hard way, but this is their union. it's not my union. it's their union. >> reporter: always in the line of fire demorris smith is used

to the heat. >> i thought that was a -- 17-year-old ben benji wilson was a rising star, a young basketball phenom with a definite nba future. in fact, in 1984 wilson was the no. 1 ranked high school basketball player in the nation. he'd been described as a magic johnson with a jump shot and kevin garnett with a better handle of the ball and a better perimeter game. luke stuckmeyer of comcast sportsnet chicago shows us wilson's wizardry on the court. >> reporter: chicago may be a football town and baseball crazy in summertime, but at its core in the city basketball is a way of life. we're not just talking about the m.j. glory days. we're talking about the kids who built their games here like isiah thomas on the west side and more recently dwayne wade and derrick rose on the south side, but 25 years ago somebody else owned these courts in

chicago, a skinny silky kid with a smile named benji. >> and center for the wolverines a junior, 6' 7, no. 25 ben wilson. >> if you haven't seen him, you're in for a treat, 20 a game. >> i would go and i want to be successful and i do what it takes to be successful and that is when i go home i study and do my work and go to class. >> kind of corny stuff. >> well, it works. >> reporter: everything seemed to work for benjamin wilson, but especially basketball. >> wilson two. >> reporter: born and raised on the city's south side, he was the middle of five brothers and it wasn't long before that orange rock was the fiber of his life. >> looked like bruce lee with two basketballs. he approached the basketball hoops. just unbelievable what he could

do with that ball three fingers pawning the ball like this. >> reporter: and with ben and his ball around the wilson's neighbors were always up early. >> the neighbors used to be furious about being woke up in the morning because he was always dribbling the basketball and one of the next-door neighbors mr. robertson said benji was the alarm clock to get him up and go to work in the morning. >> reporter: by 16 wilson could still play like a point guard but now he soared like an eagle with his new 7' 3 wingspan. >> bankston drops it down to wilson for a turnaround. >> we used to imitate ben when he shoots his jump shot. it was like he'll shoot it and then put his wrist back like this and run down the court but everybody used to emulate him in high school. that's how big he was in high school. >> reporter: and everybody wanted to be around him. benji's game and personality drew in friends and admirers

from all over including the nba. >> ben wilson steps in, scores. >> 6' 8, 8 1/2, can do it all. i mean when i say do it all and do it gracefully. i mean with the greatest of ease. i mean and it looks so pretty when he was doing it. i mean it was smooth. it was silky. it was just you had to -- he had that camera that captured that moment. i mean he was that type of player. >> wilson slide down the lane. >> reporter: as a junior he was a starter on a lineup full of seniors. benji was third team all state and the wolverines went 30-1 for the 2a state title. that put simeon on the map.

>> i think he helped push simeon into a more global nationwide type school, basketball power. i remember our senior year, you know, we thought we were world beaters, we could go anywhere and play anybody any time. >> reporter: after winning the state championship in the spring of 1984 ben kept improving stunning scouts at the nike all american camp. he left as the first kid from illinois to ever be ranked as a no. 1 player in the entire country. >> he was clearly, clearly benjamin wilson was the no. 1 player in the country. no one came close. >> reporter: ahead how benji wilson's life changed in less than a second. >> ben's thumb was rising and then at midday. >> reporter: a horrific crime on these streets in chicago is

o benji wilson's future seemed secure. just a few years in college before fame and wealth would schuler follow in the nba -- would surely follow in the nba, but it wasn't meant to be. instead there was a tragic turn of events and now 25 years later benji wilson has never been forgotten. let's get back to his story.

>> reporter: ben wilson had it all, sizzling basketball skills and an electric personality, but on november 20th, 1984, it was a gray cold fall day a on the like this one and on vinsenz avenue right in front of simeon high school the day was about to get even darker. >> the old guys, they've served their times and lived their lives, when the sun is eclipsed or the sun is rising it's so different. ben's sun was rising moving towards midday and then it became midnight at midday. >> reporter: at 12:37 on november 20th ben wilson was walking with his girl friend and mother of his 10-week-old son brandon. they were a block from the school. he liked to gather at a small store around lunchtime but benji bumped into two freshmen

from calumet high school on the sidewalk. they pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and shot him twice, one bullet piercing his aorta and the other tearing a hole in his liver. >> to this day i still don't know the story. i've never tried to seek out the story because the only person that could tell is it and while the chaos continued at simeon benji's brothers were miles away with a sibling connection that still haunts them. >> i was in library class and i heard somebody say i got shot. i got shot. i was in library class and i

was like i'm going crazy, but then i thought about cain and abel when cain slew his brother and the most high said where's your brother? i heard his blood cry from the earth. right there something let me know that he got shot. >> and as a matter of fact, i had a dream two nights in a row before he died, somebody or something tried to tell me, had a dream that night benji was dead. next day i had a dream benji was dead. at that moment i heard my brother's voice say i got shoot just like i said to you there, came to me like. so this was something there and i was like what the hell's going on here? my mama always say you want the most high to talk to you, you got to be in a quiet place and i was in the library class at the time my brother was shot and i heard him. when i found out, i went be

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we seen ben on the floor by himself. that's what brothers do. >> they weren't supposed to. i don't like to talk about that but they had to see him. >> they was telling us that he's in stable condition and kenny allen pulled the sheet back and we saw him. we had to see him and we knew he was gone. >> reporter: early the next morning the day his senior season was supposed to start ben wilson was pronounced dead at the age of just 17. even president ronald reagan called the family to offer h

is dead. >> involved in extraordinary young man. >> he was gunned down. >> it's not how long you live. but how well you live. >> then i seen my brother in that casket. oh, tried to wake him up like man, you ain't dead. get up, man. get up. get up. you ain't dead. get up. then seeing those two guys who did it. >> did you know ben wilson? did you know him? >> reporter: after the shooting cousins billy moore and omar dixon were taken into custody charged with murder and attempted robbery. moore was later sentenced to 40 years for pulling the trigger and dixon 30 years as his accomplice. on the day that benji died his

simeon teammates decided to play their first game of the season without no. 25. earlier in the day students sobbed at simeon simply overwhelmed with grief, but benji's mother stood tall in the gymnasium. >> so today i speak in love of all of you who keep benji's memory and dignity and be strength v and strength and love alive -- strength and love alive. >> reporter: the wake was held on the gymnasium floor and 8,000 people came to see benji lying in his no. 25 jersey. the line stretched blocks outside of the school, mourners waited seven hours. >> i still have dreams about

him like, you know, he came back and he was able to play again, but just dreams. >> sometimes i sit down and, you know, when i'm going through things, you know, i speak, you know, just like i would to my grandparents, you know. hey, benji, how you doing, that type of thing. i just can't forget about him. this is very emotional.

>> reporter: still an emotional story 25 years later. there are some updates to this story. at the time of his murder benji wilson left behind a 10-week- old son named brandon. well, brandon would go on to become a talented high school prep basketball player himself. even played some college basketball at the university of maryland eastern shore but he would leave after his sophomore season according to a school official and as for the two young men convicted of this horrific crime, william moore is still in federal prison for wilson's murder and omar dixon would tack on additional charms when he was arrested for aggravate -- charges when he was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a separate attempted murder case. let's move on. next summer south africa will play host to the 2010fifa world cup but it was back in 1995 when they hosted another world cup that changed the country, a game of rugby that united 42

million south africans. now clint eastwood's new movie in vic us brings this amazing true -- invictus brings this amazing true story to life and sat down with matt damon is yuntr >>rep on ma ond sporth r tochan wor >> l s ouiny. rep onat inciple that the movie invictus was born. obviously you're a big sports fan yourself. what did sports do you think has the ability to unite people like the way we saw in this movie? >> weah, spare iqued ted o ite and ela was actually quoted as saying that. i guess there's something about

getting, you know, 60,000 people in a space together g fotly sa thou kople ss tcoun caion peooss the . s cawas thiste >> b me paect faces the daunting task of a vide h afogetin the wake of apartheid. what struck you about this story that made you so interested in wanting to do it? >> that it was true. i couldn't believe it when i read it and i called clint and i said i can't believe this stor ther

fog. as hand th wad thint make no e. leas pre, it kes teso me repomandout th of e taint rugby team. francois is a pretty big guy. how did you get ady ay >>gr world obly t th beey so >> sou i am i am gs d,

spiroem. epor lm'stitle us rto aem t mandela used as a sou inspn anngthg near i because the country didn't fall into civil waby l e tionhould have and it's a decision that every single person in that country made. still to come he's a big and bad offensive lineman in the nfl but what are his keys to success off the field?

we americans are always at our best when we hear and heed the cries of others. when confronted with massive human suffering, americans have always stepped up and answered the call to help. but there's never been anything on the scale of human tragedy in our own hemisphere like what we're now witnessing in haiti. y president clinton and i are joining together to appeal to you with real urgency. give now, and lives will be saved. thank you. thank you.

take a look at san francisco 49er eric heitmann and you'd never know that off the field he's a pianoman. here's comcast sportsnet's bay area's brody brazil to show us. >> reporter: this is the side of eric heitmann people know, an offensive lineman for the 49ers since 2002. and this is the side most would never expect, at 6' 3 315 pounds he's got the frame of a football behemoth with the hands of a beethoven. >> my mom made me take lessons about 10, 11 years growing up as a kid. right around when i started playing football, football became more of a focus for me and piano you put on the back burner a little bit. it was always secondary for me,

always a hobby but something that i always kept up. >> reporter: inside his home today heitmann employs both a piano and keyboard setup inner it connected with the apple program garage band. it is here where the stanford graduate composes his best work in the form of cinematic sound scapes. >> my style is more of a movie classical theme sounding stuff i guess i would characterize it. >> so dramatic it plays well essentially. it's dynamic. >> yeah. i'd like to think that. you guys can be the judge. >> reporter: while football is the profession and composition is the passion, it's the music that gives eric an escape from life when he needs it. >> i'll be home sunday night or after a big game and maybe there's something you need to crank out on the piano to kind of relieve some emotions or something. i use it as an escape. it's a good way to kind of release frustration or whatever emotions you're feeling at the time. it's something i've done for so

long, you know, i've played for so long i don't ever really want to let it go at this point. i enjoy playing and i'm going to keep doing it as long as i can. >> reporter: it's only natural to expect eric's musical endeavors will outlast his football career, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's planning for a future behind the keyboard. >> you never know. we'll see at some point maybe if there's something you can put out there. i'd love to get in a recording studio at some point, maybe not for profit, just something i could show my kids at some point. i'll continue to do this for as long as i can. >> reporter: brody brazil, comcast sportsnet. >> he's pretty good. his team's not doing bad either. that's going to do it for this edition of net impact. i'm your host and for all of us thanks for watching, see you again next month.