With seven minutes left in the game, Arizona State's coach, Johnson, burned their last timeout.
James Harden collapsed in front of the bench, panting hard, completely gassed.
He didn't want to move. Like, at all.
He was supposed to have an outing after the game. But now? Nah, Harden just wanted a pillow and some peace.
Man, this was brutal.
Don't get it twisted—no hooper wants to lose. Harden wanted to win. Badly. All that talk about saving energy for a date? Just frontin'. He was here to hoop. But this? This was a war zone.
"James, you got anything left?" Assistant Coach Pera asked, his face full of worry. "This is crazy, man. They're killing you out there."
Harden wanted to say no. Just let me lie here and disappear, please. But then, he remembered the text Lin Yi had sent him last night.
Screw that. He couldn't let this dude clown him. No way.
The Sun Devils, seeing Harden rise back up, found a second wind. Their guy hadn't given up. Neither would they.
Down 12 with seven minutes to go? Still possible. Still time.
The players took the floor again.
"Yo Steph, come run this pick-and-roll with me.. The chunky dude refuses to tap out!" Lin Yi yelled as the Wildcats set up on offense.
But the comeback? Didn't happen.
Harden had hit a wall. Physically, mentally, emotionally—he was done.
Davidson, led by Lin Yi and Steph Curry, finished strong. They were headed to the Sweet Sixteen.
Harden dropped 34 points. But only 8 came in the second half. Just 2 assists, too—not his usual game.
The Wildcats had dogged him all night. No traps. No help.
Steph had 24 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. The baby-faced sniper hit 5 threes like it was nothing.
Lin Yi? 25 points, 12 boards, 4 blocks, 5 dimes, 2 steals.
The Shooting stars, as fans started calling them, were rolling.
At Reliant Stadium, Wildcats fans were going wild. Singing, chanting, and celebrating their Sweet Sixteen ticket.
After the game, Lin Yi found Harden. Get full chapters from NoveI★Fire.net
"Hey man, about that text... I was texting Blake. You know, they just got stomped by UNC and decided to add you. Extra motivation. No hard feelings."
Harden stared at Lin, who was looking unrepentant.
Harden muttered, "Yo Lin... what's your zodiac sign, anyway?"
Figures. Virgo's natural enemy.
Harden made a mental note: block this dude the second he gets back to his room.
But still, he kept it classy. Gave Lin and Steph a real congratulations. He couldn't help it. A little part of him was envious.
They were still in it.
His college career? Probably over. Next stop: NBA. But still... man, he was gonna miss this.
"Hey, go beat UNC. You beat me—so go beat them too," Harden told Lin Yi before leaving.
Lin Yi grinned. "We got you, man. That's what we're here for."
"Oh—and maybe, uh... when this is all over, we could take a vacation or something."
"Bet! After March Madness, we'll chill," Lin Yi said, walking off with Curry.
Backstage, Harden headed out with his teammates.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi was instantly swarmed by a bunch of Chinese reporters.
"Lin Yi, how do you like playing in the U.S.?"
"Lin Yi, don't you think playing this way wastes your height?"
"Lin Yi, any message for Chinese fans?"
Wu Xiaolei was overtaken. She took one step too slow, and now she was stuck watching others snatch the interview.
And why were they asking these useless questions?!
Ask about the game! Ask about Harden! Ask anything that matters!
Lin Yi, though? He still answered them all patiently.
By the time it was over, Wu Xiaolei could only wave awkwardly from the back, and although she got an interview, it was short.
She made a decision then and there: No more heels on interview day. Next time, she's rocking sneakers. And she's beating this crowd to Lin Yi first.
Davidson was officially Sweet Sixteen bound.
The field of sixteen was now set. From here on out, every game would be nationally televised. NBA teams would be watching closely.
Davidson's next test? Syracuse University's Orange.
In a showdown between the No. 2 seed from the East and No. 5 from the South, only one team would punch a ticket to the Elite Eight.
"Trust me—Jonny Flynn is better than Steph Curry," Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony said proudly when asked about his alma mater.
Lin Yi noticed a twitch in his forehead.
"Haha... Jonny Flynn... right," Curry muttered.
Lin Yi gave him a pat. He knew the history. In 2009, everyone was comparing Curry and Flynn.
Flynn was a beast in college. But once you get to the league? Everyone's story is different.
And Steph's? Was just getting started.
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