THE LITTLE MAN HELD THE LINE: NEWPORT ESCAPES AFRIKA 57-52

The paint was a no-go zone, both frontcourts were defending the trenches, and Game 3 eventually came down to whether Newport could survive its own disappearing offense.

Afrika went to halftime ahead by one after buzzer-beating threes from Stephen Curry and Devin Booker. Newport responded with a 21-5 third quarter as LeBron James imposed himself and Jose Alvarado turned pressure into stops, organization and timely shooting.

Then the fourth quarter nearly erased everything. Newport scored only five points while Afrika scored 15 and cut what had been an 11-point cushion down to a one-possession threat.

Alvarado stopped the swing. With Afrika pressing toward the finish, his defense disrupted the comeback and his late three restored breathing roomWatch highlight. He finished 3-for-3 from deep.

LeBron led the box score with 18 points, but the official game ball went to Alvarado for the pressure and control that the basic line did not fully capture.

Newport won 57-52 and moved ahead 2-1.