Manhattan Stuns Oklahoma Behind Reserve Forward Bucero

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jeronimo!

The NCAA Tournament has a new, favorite name, and college basketball fans have a new underdog team.

Scoring all of his team-leading 14 points in the second half, forward Jeronimo Bucero today came off the bench to lead the Manhattan Jaspers, the No. 13 seed in the Southeast Regional, to an upset of No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners 77-67 before a stunned audience at The Pyramid.

A sophomore from Madrid, Spain, Bucero made a trio of three-pointers during an important stretch to help the tiny college from New York pull away from the Sooners and advance to the second round.

In the process, the Jaspers vindicated the NCAA selection committee. It was criticized for inviting Manhattan, which built its 25-4 record against the likes of Canisius and Fairfield and St. Peter's.

"Bob Frederick and the tourament-selection committee aren't as dumb as people think," said Fran Fraschilla, Manhattan coach.

Frederick's NCAA committee usually only takes the tournament champion in the smaller conferences. But Manhattan, which lost to St. Peters in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament final, slipped in anyway.

The Jaspers came into the game feeling that they represented small-college teams that had great seasons but didn't get to the NCAA Tournament because of a slip-up in conference tournaments.

The Jaspers left the game with not only the knowledge that they belong - but that they can contend.

"We're greedy," said guard Ted Ellis, whose slippery drives opened up the inside to the Jaspers. "We want one more, at least."

In denying new Sooner coach Kelvin Sampson, formerly of Washington State, his first NCAA Tournament win, the Jaspers took Oklahoma forward Ryan Minor out of his game.

A freshman from the Bronx, Hesimu Evans, drew the assignment at power forward against the Big Eight player of the year. But Manhattan's strategy was to overwhelm Minor with a group of young toughs - Evans being a mere contributor in the scheme.

Several Jasper forwards took their shots at Minor, double-teaming him, harrassing him, showing what the mean streets of New York are all about. They forced him into taking shots he wouldn't ordinarily try, and when they had to, sent him to the free-throw line.

Minor, whom Sampson calls a low-budget Larry Bird, led all scorers with 24 points. But getting him involved in the offense led to 21 turnovers, 14 in the second half.

"The (referees) let it get too physical inside," Minor said. "It was tough even going up for a shot."

The Sooners took a 28-17 lead, but the Jaspers stayed close and went into halftime down only 34-29.

But defense is what buoyed Manhattan, which last won an NCAA Tournament game in 1956, with an upset of the then No. 1-ranked West Virginia, led by Jerry West. The Jaspers sticky, will-not-be-intimidated defense forced the Sooners to beat them from the outside, and Oklahoma responded by making only six of 21 three-pointers.

With Minor held in check, the Jaspers took the lead on a tip-in by guard Keaton Hyman, at 35-34. The tiny band of Manhattan fans erupted.

The momentum having swung, Hyman continued to pour it on, with a fast-break basket and three-pointer, before falling hard on his head while trying to block the shot of Sooner guard John Ontjes.

Hyman had to leave, but Justin Phoenix picked up. A reserve forward, Phoenix scored six points in an 8-0 Manhattan run.

Then Bucero went to work, with his three-pointers that built an unsurmountable 64-51 lead with seven minutes left. Not that many anyone Spain is going to make him a hero for his effort.

"They don't know how big the NCAA Tournament is," Bucero said. "They have no idea."

In Manhatttan, they sure do.