Anyone know the reason for the "Elam Ending" used in The Basketball Tourament?

[brush]

i don't get it. Why not let the game play out with the time clock as usual?

[Hokie]

1. I like it

The reason it was developed is that regular games devolve into a parade to the free throw line when the team that is trailing starts fouling hoping the team that is ahead misses the free throws. This causes the last 4 minutes of games to last forever. The idea of the Elam ending is that both teams continue to play normal basketball and try to score baskets at the end of the game.

I think it will be eventually adopted in college basketball but it might take years.

https://www.inquirer.com/sports/elam-method-the-basketball-tournament-fran-fraschilla-kyle-hines-samme-givens-20190801.html

In simple terms it works like this. At 4 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter the game clock is turned off and a target score is set at 8 points more that what the leading team has. So if Team A leads 75-71 over Team B at 4 minutes the target score is 83. The first team to hit 83 wins. There is still a shot clock and fouls are called.