PHOENIX — Their team in deep trouble, their March in deep stumble, a deep, strange cheer arose from the US Airways Center stands.

"Eeeeeeeee."

What was it? It couldn't be "Luuuc." It didn't sound like any part of "UCLA."

It didn't sound like anything that Bruins fans have ever chanted before.

Then, in a couple of dizzying, desperate minutes, it became perfectly clear.

"Keeeefe."

Yeah, the chant was for him, the fresh-faced Orange County kid who picked the perfect time to become a Ben Howland Bruin.

The chant was for James Keefe. The night was for James Keefe.

As crazy as this might have sounded 24 hours ago, UCLA would not have beaten Western Kentucky in the regional semifinals without James Keefe.

The final score was Bruins 88, Hilltoppers 78, Keefe incredible.

That's not my word, that's his teammates' words.

Said Lorenzo Mata-Real: "He was incredible, just incredible."

Said Luc Richard Mbah a Moute: "He was so big, he was everywhere."

He was exactly where UCLA needed him to be, in the middle of their biggest panic of the season, at the heart of a major tournament collapse.

In the center of their calm.

The sophomore who averaged two points this season scored 18.

The bench-warmer who averaged two rebounds grabbed a dozen.

And he did most of it in the second half, with the starters struggling in foul trouble and full-court press trouble and boneheaded trouble, with Howland pressing his hands on his forehead before finally pointing to Keefe on the bench.

"I was just sitting there, chilling," Keefe said with a laugh.

Then he was on the court, scorching, leading the halting of a Hilltoppers barrage that reduced a 21-point lead to four points.