Over the last few minutes State was out-rebounded 5 to 14. Little things add up over the course of a game and a season.
I assume you are talking about regulation. Looking at the play by play, over the last 5:03 of regulation, State was outrebounded 13-6. But that doesn’t have much to do with rebounding fundamentals. State missed 7 live ball free throws during that stretch, which accounts for the entire difference.
Maybe it’s too much to expect the killer instinct to be instilled in a young team… I don’t believe that St. Louis was better but, they never lost their focus or gave up on themselves even with what would seem an insurmountable lead.
State’s team was something like #330 in KenPom’s experience rating. St. Louis was a team full of seniors with postseason experience. That accounts for the difference.
