Nov. 28, 2009

Box Score

San Jose, Calif. - The Pacific men's basketball team dropped a 59-55 decision at San Jose State on Saturday, November 28. The Tigers fell to 4-1 on the season, while the Spartans improved to 2-2.

After each team scored on its first two possessions, defense took control for the next three minutes, with the teams tied at 4-4 at the 15:13 mark. With an 11-10 lead, Tiger freshman Allen Huddleston (Merced, Calif.) scored four points in an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to give the Tigers a 19-10 lead with 7:06 to play in the half. The Spartans bounced back with a 6-0 run to cut Pacific's lead to 21-18 at the four minute mark. Pacific jumped back out to a 10 point lead (28-18) with a 7-0 run capped by a layup from senior Michael Nunnally (Stockton, Calif.). The Spartans got a pair of three-pointers from Robert Owens as San Jose State outscored the Tigers 8-2 to finish the first half. Nunnally led the Tigers with 12 points in the first half.

Through the first four minutes of the second half, the Tigers took the lead back to eight (38-30) after a jumper from senior Lavar Neufville (Fairfield, Calif.). Another four point run by the Tigers just over three minutes later gave Pacific a 44-35 advantage with 12:45 to play. The Spartans then used an 10-0 run, with eight points from Owens, to take their first lead since early in the first half at 45-44 with 9:29 to play in the game.With the score 50-50, the Tigers scored five straight on a pair of free throws by Neufville and a three-pointer by junior Terrell Smith (Federal Way, Wash.) to take a 55-50 lead with 3:52 to play in the game. The Tigers would not score again, as the Spartans tied the game at 55-55 on the sixth three-pointer of the game by Owens, and took a 57-55 lead on a jumper in the lane from Justin Graham with :10 seconds to play. Trailing by two, the Tigers had two chances from close range that missed in the final seconds.

Nunnally scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Tigers, while Neufville added a career-best 15 points. Owens had a career-high 22 points for the Spartans. San Jose State out-rebounded the Tigers 33-27, including 10 offensive rebounds in the second half. Pacific shot 47.1 percent from the field, while holding the Spartans to a 41.4 percent mark.

The Tigers are next in action on Tuesday, Dec. 1 with a road game against Fresno State. Game time is 7:00 p.m. in Selland Arena.