Saint Mary's stuns Villanova to advance to Sweet 16

Posted March 19, 2010 11:00 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Omar Samhan was an unstoppable Gael force and played the game of his career, finishing with 32 points and seven rebounds to lead 10th-seeded Saint Mary's past Villanova 75-68 on Saturday and improbably into the NCAA tournament's round of 16.

This victory will be celebrated from America to Australia. One of three Australians in the starting lineup, Mickey McConnell stopped and fired an arching 25-footer that banked high off the glass for a 68-65 lead with 1:15 left.

Samhan used a two-handed block to turn back Reggie Redding and McConnell made both ends of a 1-and-1 to make it 70-65.

The soldout crowd was well behind the Gaels (28-5).

The Wildcats (25-8) made an early exit a year after they played in the Final Four. They started 20-1 and collapsed at the end.

Saint Mary's is off the Houston to play in the South Regional's Sweet 16.

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