SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Moments after the buzzer sounded on the most exhilarating game of his career, senior Derrick Byars turned to the Vanderbilt section of the Arco Arena crowd and yelled, "We ain't going home!"
In a classic game that will be relived for decades, sixth-seeded Vanderbilt (22-11) outlasted third-seeded Washington State 78-74 in double overtime Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and fourth time in 20 years. The Commodores will play second-seeded Georgetown in the East Regional semi-finals in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Friday.
"That's one of the best college basketball games I've ever been involved in," said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. "As happy as I am for our team, my heart goes out to Tony Bennett and the Washington State players because neither team deserved to lose that game."
If not for Byars, the Commodores would have been on the unlucky end of a contest that, with nine ties, 10 lead changes and countless chewed nails, epitomized March Madness. The Southeastern Conference Player of the Year scored 12 of his game-high 27 points in a five-minute stretch midway through the second half to jumpstart Vanderbilt, which trailed by eight at halftime.
"When he got that look, which we've seen on occasion this year, all of sudden the momentum and the energy picked up on our team," Stallings said. "It was like, ‘Uh oh, D.B.'s getting on a roll here so this thing can be a lot of fun.'"
While the thriller was most certainly fun, it was equally nerve-wracking. In the waning seconds of regulation, the Commodores held their collective breath as Washington State's Daven Harmeling released a 3-pointer from the corner. The shot missed, sending the game into overtime.
It was then, with the score even at 69 and 8.5 seconds remaining, that Cougar guard Taylor Rochestie stole the inbounds pass and raced downcourt for a potential game-winning lay-up. Senior Dan Cage got in front of Rochestie, which allowed Byars to get back in the play and send Rochestie's shot flying. Not a bad time to record just his fourth block of the season.
The second overtime belonged to the Commodores, but after Alex Gordon missed two free throws, the Cougars still had a chance to win. However, Rochestie's 3-point attempt came up short, Cage secured the rebound and the ball eventually ended up in the hands of Foster, who laid it in to cap what had been a 50-minute ordeal."
Afterwards, an exhausted Foster called the game "ruggedy." When Stallings playfully corrected him, saying that the word is not in the dictionary, Foster replied, "I'm trying. I can't breathe."
Forgive Foster for not being grammatically correct. He and his teammates had just played the most grueling game of their lives.
"All year, we've been a team that stays together," Foster said. "We believe that we're the best team in the country when it comes to winning close games and we proved that (Saturday)."
These Commodores ain't going home for at least one more week.
