LAS VEGAS – The 2024-25 season came to a close Thursday for the 10th-seeded Pacific men's basketball program as it dropped a tight 81-77 decision to 11th-seeded San Diego in the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Championship at Orleans Arena.
 
Pacific (9-24) led by six at the half and was still ahead with under four minutes left but San Diego (6-26) made enough plays in the end to escape with a win. The Toreros were 27-of-30 (.900) from the free throw line including 21-of-23 (.913) in the second half to close it out.
 
The back-and-forth battle featured 12 ties and 21 lead changes.
 
Game-highs in points and rebounds were recorded by senior Elias Ralph as he netted 23 points and pulled down 11 boards. He was 9-of-16 from the field and played a game-high 39 minutes.
 
An all-around effort came from junior Lamar Washington, an All-Conference Second-Team honoree. He turned in 14 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds. Washington was 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
 
The Tigers garnered four double-figure scorers in the game. In his last collegiate appearance, senior Petar Krivokapic submitted 13 points and drained a trio of three-pointers. Junior Elijah Fisher registered 10 points and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
 
San Diego was paced by Kody Clouet's 20 points as he was 9-of-9 from the charity stripe.
 
Pacific scored the first four points of the game on field goals by Ralph and Fisher. A three by Krivokapic and a free throw by sophomore Jazz Gardner kept the team ahead 25-20 with 8:06 left.
 
Pacific's largest lead of the game was 37-29 after a pair of free throws by Fisher. San Diego scored the next four points but the Tigers took a 39-33 advantage into the half after a mid-range buzzer beater by Fisher.
 
Pacific remained ahead 44-36 after a three by Krivokapic with 17:12 left. The Toreros crept back in it and cut the deficit to 46-45 at the 14:52 mark. USD's first lead of the second half 49-48 came with 12:52 to go.
 
The teams exchanged buckets for most of the second half as a dunk by Ralph gave the Tigers a 65-62 edge with 5:49 remaining. Pacific's last lead was 71-69 after Washington hit a pair of free throws at the 4:05 mark.
 
After USD took the lead in the final minute, the Tigers tied it 77-77 on a tip-in by Ralph with 16 seconds left. Though, the Toreros drew a foul on the ensuing possession and made two free throws with three seconds remaining. Pacific threw a long range pass from underneath its basket which was intercepted, forcing the Tigers to foul.
 
The Tigers surpassed their conference win total by four games and overall win total by three games from last season.
 

The @HeluvaGoodDip dish of the game | @PacificMensBB @mycreditunion1 #WCChoops Championship pic.twitter.com/1G2PuFv3vx

— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 7, 2025

NOTES
- It was the first-ever meeting between Pacific and San Diego on a neutral court. The Tigers are now 17-14 all-time against San Diego.
 
- Washington broke two assists records this year. He set the single-season mark of 191 and the single-game mark with 15. Washington entered the night ranked top-15 in the nation in total assists and top-30 in assists per game. He submitted his 25th career double-digit scoring performance and 23rd this season.
 
- Fisher entered the day ranked top-15 in the country in both free throw attempts and free throws made and was 6-for-6 in the game. It was his 46th career double-figure scoring game and 30th this year.
 
- Ralph turned in his 21st career double-double and 10th this season. It was his 88th career double-figure scoring game and 28th this season. It was his 21st career double-digit rebounding performance and 10th this season. Additionally, it was his 19th career 20-plus scoring outing and seventh this year.
 
- Krivokapic ended his career with 945 points, which included four seasons at FIU. He was a 36.0 percent career three-point shooter on 573 attempts. Krivokapic finished his career with 35 double-figure scoring games including 13 with Pacific.
 
- USD entered the game ranked 26th in the country in fast break points with 14.0 per game and the Tigers limited them to six fast break points.
 
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