With seven seconds left in the Division II national championship basketball game, Luqman Jaaber deflected a pass and stole the ball. His two free throws a second later secured the win for Virginia Union University over Bryant College.
Luqman, the older brother of Penn guard Ibby Jaaber, was an integral part of the national champion Virginia Union team.
"I was probably happier than he was," Ibby said.
The steal, which Luqman procured to end the championship game, was anything but an aberration for the Jaaber brothers. Penn fans know that Ibby was sixth in Division I this year with 2.9 steals a game. However, Luqman outpaced his brother, getting 3.0 takeaways a game -- good enough for eighth in Division II.
Both brothers have set their school records for steals in a game. Ibby set the steals record for Penn this year with nine against Dartmouth at home -- the previous record of eight was held by three different Quakers. Luqman earned not only the Virginia Union record but the record for the state of Virginia when he robbed Longwood 10 times in December 2003. Luqman was also the best free-throw shooter in Division II this year, shooting at an 89.9 percent clip.
The two brothers agree that stealing the ball is not something they have worked on or picked up from each other. Luqman claims that the steals and their defense in general "came from us being so competitive."
Furthermore, Luqman says their defense was developed when they used to play dribbling games if they did not have a basket. And, while steals are not genetic, it may have something to do with the Jaabers' wingspans.
Ibby, 21, and Luqman, 24, grew up playing basketball. It has always been an important part of their lives and their relationship with each other.
And although Ibby's reflexes may be lightning quick now, Luqman recalls a time when that was not necessarily the case.
When Luqman was nine and Ibby was six, the two were playing recreational basketball in North Carolina when one of Ibby's older brothers tossed him the ball. Instead of Ibby reacting with the speed Quakers fans are familiar with, he ducked out of the way.
Ibby fondly remembers their teen years, when they would play against one another wherever there was a basket. They would set up a video camera to record their spectacular plays.
"Afterwards we would watch the dunks going on," Ibby said.
And nobody is more proud of how Ibby and Luqman have grown up with the game than their mother Aisha.
"I try to support them as much as I possibly can," she said. "I enjoy watching them.
"I also take pride in how they conduct themselves, playing the sport, interacting with people, dealing with life."
Despite the fact that the brothers have played such important roles in developing each other's skills, they have never seen each other play a college game in person. Ibby keeps up with how his brother is doing by watching games on TV and following the Virginia Union web site. Luqman does likewise, noting that the last game he watched was the Penn-Princeton game at Princeton this year.
Though the distance between Philadelphia and Richmond, Va., prevents them from seeing each other's games, it has not challenged their relationship. While they do not have any particular rituals, they do talk to each other frequently.
Ibby calls Luqman before every game and makes sure he calls after the game as well if Penn wins.
"When I talk to him, I look to him for strength and confidence, some advice, and I get that most of the time," Luqman said. "We don't talk about technique -- it is more spiritual, preparing for our games."
Each brother has incredible respect for his counterpart's basketball talent. But Ibby believes that Luqman is the more dedicated of the two.
"He is a harder worker than I am," Ibby said.
Luqman had just as much praise for his brother though.
"He can shoot and he can handle the ball," Luqman said. "He has definitely developed a keen sense of the game."
They both agreed that Ibby is the quicker of the two. When Ibby visited Richmond over winter break, the brothers played a game of one-on-one. Ibby noted that "he couldn't guard me as well as I guarded him." However, Ibby gave Luqman credit for inspiring his defensive approach and helping him to work harder on his skills.
Luqman is a senior at Virginia Union, which certainly influenced how Aisha followed her sons this year.
"Luqman's last year, I was trying to be a little more supportive on [his] end this year," Aisha said.
While the Division II championship was Luqman's last at Virginia Union, he hopes he has not played his last basketball game.
"I definitely want to test the NBA market first," Luqman said.
If he does not make the NBA, he will test the market overseas. Luqman wishes post-college success for Ibby as well.
"I would not be surprised if the NBA starts knocking on his door."
