"This might be the most exciting showdown we've seen in the NCAA so far," the courtside commentator passionately declared as Kai Chen sank another three-pointer over Trae Young.
"One is the scoring leader of this tournament, and the other is Kai Chen from Duke University."
"These two young men have given us an astonishing showdown in this Elite Eight elimination game!"
Another commentator added, "Although the process has been thrilling, Duke University has come back from a 20-point deficit to trail by only three points!"
"And all of this is thanks to Kai Chen! He's the one who has given Duke University hope of advancing to the Final Four!"
There was one minute left in the game.
The score was 75:78.
The game entered its most critical moment, truly poised to decide the winner.
"This is Duke!"
"This is Duke!"
The home atmosphere heated up, with nearly twenty thousand fans shouting Duke University's signature cheer in unison, rallying behind the home team.
On the court!
After Kai slowly dribbled the ball into the frontcourt, he gestured to his teammates, signaling them to slow the pace.
"Go, Kai, you're the best!"
"One more, one more!"
"Only three points left, Kai!"
"Keep pushing Kai, no matter the outcome, you can walk out of the arena with your head held high tonight!"
As Kai Chen controlled the ball, the fans erupted.
At this moment, he carried the hopes of all Duke University supporters.
From the boos he had received at the start of the game to the cheers now filling the arena, Kai Chen needed only a few minutes to conquer Duke's notoriously demanding fans.
He held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Trae Young's relentless defense.
With the game at its most critical juncture, the defensive intensity escalated.
Normally, in moments like this, referees would turn a blind eye and avoid calling fouls easily.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
After a series of sharp dribble changes, Kai Chen executed a nimble spin to shake off Trae Young and drove straight toward the basket.
As Kai Chen entered the restricted area, every Oklahoma University defender collapsed inward to help.
Driving to the rim, Kai Chen looked up to see a forest of arms closing in above his head.
Relying on his powerful core strength, he absorbed contact from three defenders, hung in the air, forced space with his arms, and banked the ball in!
"Beep!"
"Swish!"
As the referee's whistle sounded, the ball dropped cleanly through the net.
2+1!
"And one!"
Kai Chen roared as he hit the floor.
"Goddam boy!"
"Well done!"
Seeing Kai Chen fall, his teammates rushed over to help him up, showering him with praise.
"Swish!"
After Kai Chen knocked down the free throw, the score became 78:78.
Duke University tied the game!
On that possession, Kai Chen nearly challenged Oklahoma University's entire defense by himself, completing a 2+1 while guarded by three players.
This superhuman play subtly shifted Oklahoma's mindset.
Trae Young attacked.
He pushed the ball quickly from the backcourt, used a double screen at midcourt, split through the defense, and drove straight into Duke's paint.
"Double-team!"
Bagley and Wendell Carter stepped up together, cutting off his path.
At the same time, Trent collapsed inward from the top of the arc.
Only Kai Chen was forcefully bumped aside by his direct defender as he tried to recover inside—but it was too late.
Facing the triple-team, Trae Young would normally attack without hesitation.
But after battling all game and with his stamina waning, he leapt to pass, aiming for a wide-open teammate beyond the three-point line.
"Smack!"
In the next instant—
Kai Chen somehow anticipated the pass.
Charging in from several meters away, he intercepted the ball just before it reached its target.
Trae Young's eyes widened in disbelief, and the teammate waiting to shoot was completely caught off guard.
By the time they turned to chase, it was already too late.
Kai Chen crossed midcourt and finished the fast break with ease.
80:78!
Duke University took the lead for the first time in the game.
"Kai Chen, he did it!"
The courtside commentator couldn't contain his excitement. "From down 20 points to leading by two, Duke University has completed a stunning comeback with just 40 seconds left!"
"Oklahoma University is in danger now!"
Another commentator added, "No one could have predicted such a dramatic turn."
"Right now, whether in mindset or momentum, Duke University has completely overtaken Oklahoma University!"
"Timeout!"
Oklahoma University's head coach called for a timeout, his expression grim.
His team's performance during this stretch left him deeply dissatisfied.
If not for Trae Young's resilience and his tough response shots earlier, the suspense might already be over.
He pulled out the tactical board and began designing a play for Trae Young.
"Beep—"
The whistle sounded, and the timeout ended.
Both teams returned to the court.
The Oklahoma head coach looked from his own players to Duke's lineup and shook his head with a bitter smile. How had this game turned out like this?
Five minutes earlier, they had held a 20-point lead.
Yet now, despite such an advantage, they were trailing by two.
His thoughts raced, but he quickly refocused.
The game wasn't over.
Oklahoma University launched its final offensive.
Facing a tough sideline inbound, the ball was quickly passed to Trae Young.
Following the play, a teammate cut hard toward the paint as if to receive the ball, pulling the defender away.
At the top of the arc, Trae Young used a screen to shake off Kai Chen.
After the switch, he found himself matched up against Bagley.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
After a series of crossovers, Trae Young spotted the opening, took a hard step past Bagley, and drove to the rim.
Wendell Carter rotated over from the paint to help.
Unfazed, Trae Young attacked straight into the defense.
In mid-air, after absorbing contact, he twisted his body and finished with a reverse layup.
"Bing!"
"Swish!"
The ball banked in.
82:82!
The game was tied.
Trae Young's tough, unreasonable finish silenced the once-deafening Duke University arena.
"Damn Trae Young!!!"
"It's okay, we still have one last possession!"
"Believe in Kai—he'll lead us to the Final Four!"
"Come on, Kai! Carry the pride of Duke University forward!"