Dec. 9, 2008

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Senior Bryan LeDuc (Corona, Calif.) paced Pacific with 17 points off the bench to lead the Tigers past San Francisco, 66-60, on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

The victory moved Pacific to 4-3, while San Francisco fell to 6-4.

The Tigers trailed most of the first half, as the Dons took an early 15-11 lead with 10:18 left. After senior Chad Troyer (Seattle, Wash.) scored to make it 23-20 game with 6:07 remaining, USF went on a 9-1 run led by five points from Angelo Caloiaro to take a 32-21 lead with 2:54 left. After falling behind 34-23, the Tigers ended the first half on a 6-0 run on four points from LeDuc to trail by five at the break (34-29). The Dons shot 60.0% in the first half, including 5-of-8 from three-point range.

A pair of three-pointers from LeDuc started the second half, as the Tigers extended their run to 12-0 to take a 35-34 lead with 17:46 left in the game. The lead changed hands nine times in the second half, and featured six ties. After the Tigers took the lead, USF answered right back, as neither team lead by more than three points until the final minute. A pair of free throws from Troyer tied the game for the final time at 50-50 with 5:09 left. After a USF basket, LeDuc hit another three to give the Tigers a 53-52 lead, but it was quickly countered by a three on the other end by Blake Wallace to turn the lead back to the Dons with 2:41 left. On the Tigers' next possession, junior Lavar Neufville (Fairfield, Calif.) hit a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock to give the Tigers a 56-55 lead with just over two minutes remaining. A layup by senior Anthony Brown (Sacramento, Calif.) pushed Pacific to a 58-55 lead, and a block on the defensive end by LeDuc gave the Tigers the ball back. Troyer hit a pair of free throws to give the Tigers a 60-55 lead with just over a minute left. A three-point play after a layup by Manny Quezada made the score 60-57, but sophomore Terrell Smith (Federal Way, Wash.) hit two free throws to push the lead back to four (62-58). Another layup by Quezada cut the lead to 62-60, but Troyer sealed the victory with four more free throws in the final seconds. Pacific was 8-of-8 from the line down the stretch.

Troyer scored 12 points for the Tigers, while Brown notched his first double-double of the year with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Pacific out-rebounded USF 39-17, allowing just two offensive rebounds to the Dons. The Tigers had 16 offensive rebounds, holding a 14-2 advantage in second chance points.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Dec. 13 as Pacific travels to Malibu, Calif. to face the Pepperdine Waves at 2 p.m.