Unhappy ending

Nelson's storied career ends with last shot falling short

Jameer Nelson's magical senior season came to a heartbreaking end. AP EAST RUTHERFORD REGIONAL First Round: Various Sites Thursday, March 18 • (12) Manhattan 75, (5) Florida 60 • (8) Texas Tech 76, (9) Charlotte 73 • (4) Wake Forest 79, (13) VCU 78 • (1) Saint Joseph's 82, (16) Liberty 63 Friday, March 19 • (7) Memphis 59, (10) South Carolina 43 • (2) Oklahoma St. 75, (15) E. Washington 56 • (6) Wisconsin 76, (11) Richmond 64 • (3) Pittsburgh 53, (14) Central Florida 44 Second Round Saturday, March 20 • (4) Wake Forest 84, (12) Manhattan 80 • (1) Saint Joseph's 70, (8) Texas Tech 65 Sunday, March 21 • (2) Oklahoma State 70, (7) Memphis 53 • (3) Pittsburgh 59, (6) Wisconsin 55 Regional Semfinals Continental Airlines Arena Thursday, March 25 • (2) Oklahoma State 63, (3) Pittsburgh 51 • (1) Saint Joseph's 84, (4) Wake Forest 80 Regional Finals Saturday, March 27 • (2) Oklahoma State 64, (1) St. Joe's 62 More from SI.com • Updated bracket | Daily schedule • SI.com Writers: Inside the tournament • E-mail Alerts | Hoops Bracket Challenge • Complete NCAA tournament coverage

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Jameer Nelson sat stunned on the court, his fabulous career over.

Nelson returned for his senior season for just this moment. Game on the line. Ball in his hands. A trip to the Final Four at stake.

With one last chance to save Saint Joseph's storybook season, Nelson couldn't come through, falling just short with the final shot of his career.

His fadeaway jumper just outside the free-throw line brushed the front of the rim just before time expired, and Oklahoma State held on for a 64-62 victory Saturday night to win the East Rutherford Regional.

"Every time I shoot the ball, I think it is in," the point guard said. "I wouldn't shoot the ball if I didn't believe I wasn't going to make it."

Once up from the court, Nelson hunched over, hands on his knees, as coach Phil Martelli rubbed his back.

"I don't think that you can put into words what this guy has done," Martelli said. "He's the greatest player that I've ever been around."

Nearly all the Hawks collapsed on the court. Forward John Bryant lay face down for minutes before he was helped up. Delonte West pulled his shirt over his face and sobbed as Martelli came over to console him.

The Hawks (30-2) earned a top seed in the NCAA tournament and a No. 1 ranking for the first time.

It was a crushing end for Nelson, who became the face of this tiny Jesuit school that became the talk of college basketball.

"He has nothing to hang his head about," said West, Nelson's backcourt mate. "He made this team better since the day he walked in. He's going to leave on a good note."

Nelson became Saint Joe's career leader in points and assists, was named the Atlantic 10 player of the year and was the first All-American for Saint Joseph's.

Nelson's continued his run in the postseason, averaging 27 points in the first three games. He finished with 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds against Oklahoma State.

It was his crosscourt pass that allowed Pat Carroll to hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left for a 62-61 lead with 29.9 seconds left.

It would be Saint Joseph's last lead of the season. OSU's John Lucas, with his father watching from the stands, drilled a 3-pointer to put the Cowboys ahead.

The Hawks did not call a timeout and put the ball in Nelson's hands. He stepped back as Daniel Bobik came at him, but the ball nicked off the rim.

"I wouldn't want anyone else with the ball but Jameer," Bryant said. "He showed the past four years he can deliver in pressure situations. I trust him and his ability. He would find a way. It just so happened things didn't go our way this time."

Lucas and couple of his teammates offered Nelson some encouragement.

"He's a quality player who plays with a lot of heart," Lucas said. "You have to tip your hat to him."

The Hawks were denied their first trip to the Final Four since 1961. Nelson's next game will be as a pro.

"He's gone in terms of a uniform, but he'll never be gone from Saint Joe's basketball," Martelli said. "The numbers are astounding, the wins are astounding, but the humanness with which he did it all will be an example that will last a lifetime in Saint Joe's basketball history."