COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT : Ammann Lifts Stanford to Title, 78-72; Tubbs Ejected

Kenny Ammann scored 22 points as Stanford overcame Oklahoma’s 15-0 run after the first-half ejection of Sooner Coach Billy Tubbs to win National Invitation Tournament championship, 78-72, Wednesday night.

Oklahoma opened its biggest lead, 46-37, early in the second half, but Stanford rallied with a 23-10 run to move ahead, 60-56. Deshon Wingate, held to one point in the first half, had 10 points and Ammann eight during the spurt, including two of his five three-pointers.

The Sooners cut it to 70-67 on two free throws by Brent Price with 1:40 left, but Stanford (20-13) put away its first NIT title by making eight of 12 free throws down the stretch.

Price scored 26 points and Bryan Sallier 24 for Oklahoma (20-15).

Adam Keefe, Stanford’s leading scorer with a 21.8 average, finished with 12 points but had only two in the final 29 minutes. Keefe, who scored 24 points in the Cardinal’s semifinal victory over Massachusetts, was named most valuable player of the tournament.

The victory made Stanford the 13th school to win the NIT and the NCAA basketball championship. The Cardinal won the NCAA title in 1942.

The first half was a furious one that ended with Oklahoma leading, 39-35, and Tubbs in the locker room. He was ejected for arguing with the referees with 4:38 left in the half and the score tied, 26-26. Tubbs was angry because he thought the referees failed to call a traveling violation on Keefe before he passed to Andrew Vlahov, who was then fouled while shooting.

After referee Mickey Crowley gave Tubbs a technical, the coach continued to argue and was ejected by referee Pete Pavia.

Vlahov then made his two free throws, and Patrick sank all four free throws resulting from the two technical fouls on Tubbs. Stanford retained possession and Ammann quickly made a three-pointer, giving the Cardinal nine points in nine seconds and a 35-26 lead with 4:27 remaining left in the half.

But with assistant Mike Anderson running the team, Oklahoma struck back with a 13-0 run to close the half, with Price getting the last nine points. They extended their run to 15-0 by scoring the first basket of the second half.