ORLANDO -- When SMU guard Ben Emelogu hit a step-back jumper to end the first half, reducing Cincinnati's lead to one in the American Conference quarterfinals, belief started to creep in for the Mustangs. Maybe, just maybe, the short-handed squad could upset the No. 8 team in the country and keep its March run going.
"I was just telling [his teammates], 'Seize the moment,'" Emelogu said. "'Let's go make history.'"
History, though, proved unattainable as the Mustangs fell to Cincinnati 61-51 to end their hopes of crashing the NCAA tournament.
SMU had its chances, though.