Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific men's basketball team opened the 2010-11 regular season home schedule with a 70-61 victory over William Jessup University on Saturday, Nov. 20. The Tigers improved to 3-1 on the season, while WJU dropped to 2-4.

Pacific fell behind early, as William Jessup took a 10-6 lead five minutes into the first half. Sophomore Allen Huddleston (Merced, Calif.) had a three-point play and senior Sam Willard (Pierre, S.D.) had four points as part of a 10-0 run to give the Tigers a 16-10 lead with 12:40 left in the half. WJU's Anthony Anderson then hit back-to-back three-pointers as part of an 11-0 run to give the Warriors an 21-16 lead with 9:08 to go in the half. A three-pointer from senior Terrell Smith (Federal Way, Wash.) boosted a 12-3 run by the Tigers to open a 28-24 lead with just under five minutes left. Pacific did not score again in the first half as William Jessup's Eleazar Jones hit a pair of three-pointers and the Warriors finished the final five minutes with an 8-0 run to take a 32-28 lead at the break. Jones had four treys in the opening frame, as the Warriors hit 8-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Pacific opened the second half with a 13-5 run featuring a pair of treys by junior Jose Rivera (Brentwood, Calif.) to take a 41-37 lead in the first five minutes. The Warriors reclaimed a 46-45 lead with 11:33 to play, before Pacific exploded. Over the next seven minutes the Tigers bounded ahead with a 21-4 run, to take a 66-50 lead with 4:34 to play in the game. Young and senior Pat Eveland (San Diego, Calif.) each had five points in the run as Pacific took control. The Warriors made one final push, cutting the Tigers' lead to 66-59 after Anthony Anderson's third three-pointer with just over two minutes left. Pacific was able to hold on from there for the nine point win.

The Tigers were led by Willard's sixth straight double-double, with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Huddleston had 12 points, while Smith and senior Demetrece Young (Oklahoma City, Okla.) each added 11 points. Senior Nyika Williams (Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) had eight points and tied career highs with seven rebounds and three blocks.

Although the Tigers shot 42.6 percent from the field for the game, they out-rebounded WJU 36-23 with 14 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second chance points.

On Monday, Nov. 22 in Springfield, Mo., the Tigers are next in action against Arkansas State in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Preseason Tipoff.