March 14, 2009

Box Score

Anaheim, Calif. - Trailing by as much as 18 points early, the Pacific men's basketball team rallied to force overtime before falling to Cal State Northridge, 71-66, in the championship game of the Big West Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 14.

The loss dropped Pacific to 19-12 for the 2008-09 season, while Cal State Northridge earned the Big West Conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with the victory and moved to 17-13 overall.

The game got off to a less than stellar start for the Tigers as Pacific was 1-of-10 from the field and found themselves down 21-3 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Down 24-6 moments later, Pacific began a long slow climb back into the game.

Senior Chad Troyer (Seattle, Wash.) started a 10-0 run for Pacific with a mid-range jumper from the right side. Junior Joe Ford (Altadena, Calif.) sank two free throws to make it 24-10, then senior Bryan LeDuc (Corona, Calif.) drained a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 6:50 mark. Ford added another free throw, then Troyer capped the run with another mid-range jumper to make it a 24-16 contest. The true catalyst for Pacific's run was the Tigers' defense. Pacific held Cal State Northridge scoreless for just under five minutes from the 9:19 until Mark Hill tossed in a running layup with 4:31 remaining in the half to make it 26-16.

Still down double digits at 30-20 with 2:17 left in the first half, the Tigers found the energy to cut their deficit to just six with a 7-3 burst to close the half.

Returning to the floor with renewed hope, Pacific battled within one point on three separate occasions in the opening seven minutes, but the Tigers were unable to grab the lead.

Finally down 42-37 with 12:06 remaining, the Tigers pulled even on a 5-0 burst behind a three-pointer from senior Michael Kirby (North Highlands, Calif.) and two free throws from senior Anthony Brown (Sacramento, Calif.). The tie, however, was short-lived as Cal State Northridge scored the next nine points to build a 51-42 edge with just under seven minutes remaining.

Once more the Tigers plotted a comeback, executing with precision defense and timely offense.

Trailing 52-46 with 5:05 to play, Troyer misfired on a three from the right, but Kirby tracked down the long rebound and gave Troyer another chance. This time Chad launched from beyond the NBA arc and drained it to make it a one possession game.

Once again Cal State Northridge was able to keep the Tigers just out of reach, clinging to the lead down the stretch.

Trailing 61-55 with one minute to go, LeDuc drilled a three-pointer from the top of the arc, then Tigers forced Cal State Northridge into a shot clock violation to earn a shot for the tie or the win.

As time wound down, Kirby drove towards the basket and was fouled with 5.1 seconds remaining. He calmly sank both free throws, knotting the score at 61-61. After a half-court shot from the Matadors clanked off the back iron, the two teams headed for overtime.

Cal State Northridge's Rodrigue Mels opened the extra period with a three-ball from the right side, but LeDuc was equal to the challenge for Pacific on the next possession. Bryan dropped in a turnaround hook shot from just outside the paint, then completed the traditional three-point play to tie the game again at 64-64.

The Matadors outscored the Tigers 7-2 in the final four minutes of overtime to take the game, 71-66.

LeDuc led Pacific with a career-high 24 points, while Kirby finished with 16. LeDuc and Troyer earned All-Tournament honors for the Tigers.

Mels led the Matadors with 23 points in the contest.