Box Score The Pacific men's basketball team closed out the 2011-12 exhibition season with a 71-54 win over San Francisco State University on Wednesday, November 9.
San Francisco State opened up an early 11-2 lead after hitting a pair of three-pointers and getting four points from Casey James. The Tigers trailed by as much as 10 (22-12 with 8:19 left), before they got it going in the first half. Over the next four minutes, Pacific went on a 9-1 run behind five points from junior Markus Duran to cut the lead to 23-21. A layup by the Gators took the lead to 25-21. The Tigers scored the final six points of the half, punctuated by a tip dunk by sophomore Khalil Kelley to make it 27-25 going into the break.
There were three ties and four lead changes in the opening minutes of the second half. After a 34-33 SFSU lead, sophomore
Ross Rivera gave the Tigers the lead for good with a mid-range jumper. It sparked a 7-0 run that was capped by a three-pointer from junior
Colin Beatty to give Pacific a 40-34 lead with 12:44 to play. The run extended to 18-4, as junior
Lorenzo McCloud and Kelley each scored five points to put the Tigers ahead 51-38 with 9:17 to go. After a 7-4 run by the Gators, Pacific put the game away with a trey by McCloud that gave the Tigers a 62-48 lead with 3:57 remaining. The Tigers would cruise to the 17-point victory from there.
McCloud led the Tigers with 15 points. Kelley added 13 points, while junior Rundell Mauge grabbed nine boards to lead the team.
The Tigers excelled in the paint, scoring 24 points in the key and held a 42-34 rebounding advantage.
Nefi Porfomo led the Gators with 11 points and two steals.
The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, November 13 against Cal State Monterey Bay for their season home opener. Tipoff is at 5:00 pm at Alex G. Spanos Center.
