Get your Pacific NCAA Tournament merchandise today! Shop now at the PacificTigers.com Official Store!

BOISE, Idaho - The Pacific Tigers men's basketball team played just about perfect for 20 minutes as the Tigers built a 45-30 halftime lead over Pittburgh in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 17. Pacific went on to claim a 79-71 win to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The win moved the Tigers to 27-3, while the Panthers finished the season at 20-9.

The Tigers did not trail in the game as Pacific jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening three minutes . Pittsburgh pulled within one point at 9-8 at the 14:14 mark, but the Tigers scored 10 of the next 13 points, including six points from junior Christian Maraker (Varberg, Sweden), to build the lead to 19-11. Moments later, with Pacific leading 23-18, the Tigers got a huge lift from the bench as junior Mike Webb (Lancaster, Calif.) as Webb hit two of his four first half three-pointers to lead Pacific on a 12-2 run, giving the Tigers a 35-20 lead with 2:54 left in the half.

Pacific maintained its 15 point lead into halftime at 45-30. Pacific shot 58% (15-of-26) from the field in the first half, including six-of-eight (75%) from behind the arc.

In the second half, Pittsburgh forced the Tigers into four turnovers in the opening five minutes, but the Pacific defense held as the Tigers led 51-36 with 14:58 remaining. The Panthers, however, rattled off the next eight points to cut Pacific's lead to just seven points at 51-44 with 13:11 to go. The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run as senior Tyler Newton (Burbank, Calif.) ignited the run with a dunk, then senior David Doubley (Oakland, Calif.) nailed a trey and Maraker hit a 12-foot jumper.

Pittsburgh continued to battle Pacific as the Panthers got within five points at 64-59 with 3:43 remaining. After the two teams traded buckets, Maraker hit a three-pointer to push the lead to 67-59. The Panthers got within six points three times down the stretch, but Pacific was six-for-six from the line in the final two minutes to seal the victory.

Maraker and Doubley led the Tigers with 17 points each, while Webb finished with a career-high 15 points. The Panthers Carl Krauser finished with a game-high 27 points.

Pacific now moves on face #1-seed Washington on Saturday, Mar. 19 at 1:20 p.m. (MT).