Fierce competition and big crowds

By David Tinson

MAUI, HI -- The 2004 EA SPORTS™ Maui Invitational featured some hot basketball action, but it was some off-the-court skills that brought a little man to the top of the heap in late November's college hoops tournament.

Preseason Top 25 teams from North Carolina, Louisville, and Texas were all part of the week's festivities, which kicked off on Saturday, November 20 with the annual EA SPORTS video game tournament.

In front of their teammates and coaches and with their pride on the line, two competitors from each school put their skills to the test on the newly-released NCAA® March Madness™ 2005. The game features an exclusive EA SPORTS Maui Invitational game mode and an expanded dynasty mode, among other improvements and innovations.

When the night was done, the smallest man in the house had the biggest smile on his face -- Tennessee?s Pee-Wee Gash, a 5-7 reserve guard. It?s a long way from Knoxville, but Gash and his Volunteers teammates looked right at home celebrating victory in their familiar orange and white.

Pee-Wee lofts the trophy

Surrounded by his cheering teammates, Gash looked like an All-American in cruising to 31-22 win in the championship game of the tournament over North Carolina?s Rashad McCants. UNC?s national Player of the Year candidate had arrived in the title game with decisive wins over players from BYU, Stanford and Chaminade, but was no match for Gash, who proved he could run against McCants? virtual North Carolina team as well as step back and hit the open three.

?I couldn?t have done it without them,? Gash said as he hoisted the championship trophy with his teammates on stage. ?I went out and won this for the team. I stayed composed and got the job done.?

The Sheraton Maui?s Anuenue Lawn -- just a few feet from the Pacific Ocean and surrounded with palm trees and tiki torches -- provided a spectacular backdrop for the evening?s festivities. While the surroundings may seem more appropriate for snorkeling, surfing or sunbathing, it?s hard to imagine a better setting for the annual videogame tourney, where bragging rights were on the line as all eight teams squared off for the title.

They came from schools big and small and from destinations all over the country, but on this particular Saturday night players from Stanford, Carolina, Texas, Louisville, Chaminade, BYU, Iowa and Tennessee all came together with one goal -- proving their gaming supremacy.

Saturday?s battle on NCAA March Madness 2005 proved to be a great start to a week of basketball in paradise and left the Tennessee Volunteers singing Rocky Top.

EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Video Game Tournament Results

First Round
Kenny Taylor (Texas) d. Chris Reaves (Chaminade), 30-6
Terrance Farley (Louisville) d. Pierre Pierce (Iowa), 20-9
Sean May (North Carolina) d. Mike Hall (BYU), 24-13
Pee-Wee Gash (Tennessee) d. Matt Haryasz (Stanford), 25-5
Corey Campbell (Chaminade) d. Daniel Gibson (Texas), 19-16
Jack Brownlee (Iowa) d. Taquan Dean (Lousiville), 28-24
Rashad McCants (North Carolina) d. David Burgess (BYU), 18-16
Carlton Weatherby (Stanford) d. Stanley Asumnu (Tennessee), 32-18

Quarterfinals
Terrance Farley (Louisville) d. Kenny Taylor (Texas), 34-18
Pee-Wee Gash (Tennessee) d. Sean May (North Carolina), 31-20
Corey Campbell (Chaminade) d. Jack Brownlee (Iowa), 19-18
Rashad McCants (North Carolina) d. Carlton Weatherby (Stanford), 31-25

Semifinals
Rashad McCants (North Carolina) d. Corey Campbell (Chaminade), 32-23
Pee-Wee Gash (Tennessee) d. Terrance Farley (Louisville), 24-17

Finals
Pee-Wee Gash (Tennessee) d. Rashad McCants (North Carolina), 31-22