Stanford Survives Marquette, Coach's Ejection in OT Victory

Stanford's coach Trent Johnson has a lot to thank Brook Lopez for, the AP reports. With Johnson ejected for after consecutive technical fouls in the first half, Lopez took the reins on the court, bruising Marquette's hopes to the tune of 30 points, including the game-winning shot with 1.3 seconds remaining in OT to give Stanford the 82-81 victory.

The game saw numerous shifts in momentum, with the Lopez and his twin brother Robin's impact buffered by Marquette's athleticism on the perimeter, led by the outstanding play of Jerel McNeal, who notched a career best with 30 points of his own. Despite nailing three overtime 3's however, McNeal faltered in the final seconds of play, missing poorly on a shot which resulted in a Stanford rebound that set up Lopez's decisive shot. (More March Madness stories.)