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Date Posted: 11:53:10 03/09/02 Sat
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Re: Loss to USU Ends A Good Year
In reply to: mcgeorge 's message, "Loss to USU Ends A Good Year" on 09:01:26 03/09/02 Sat

Yes, this does end a good year for the Tigers, I couldn't help but think it could have been better but that's not the way it went. Last night's loss hurts pretty bad. After the women beat UCR yesterday I went to an alumni/booster party at the vagabound hotel where the Tiger fans are staying and I spoke with several administrators who told me that the NIT has been in contact with the Tigers. They went onto say that we had a very good shot at the post season had we made the conference final. Right now that NIT bid looks out of reach because of last night's loss. Below is the Record's article for last night's loss. There is some mention about the officiating, and it's true that we didn't get some calls, but the plain fact is the Aggies made plays and we didn't when it mattered and that is the difference between the two programs at this time. I noticed two tall strapping african american men at both men's games, but I didn't have a chance to talk to them. I'm assuming that they were recruits. We'll find out in April when letters of intent are signed. Overall, I good year and a good career for our seniors, they should be proud.


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Originally Published Saturday, March 9, 2002
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bounces go against UOP in semifinals

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Had that round, leather orb not made a few crazy bounces late in the first semifinal of the Big West Conference Tournament on Friday, University of the Pacific and Utah State might still be on the court.

What decided the Tigers' physical game with the Aggies wasn't effort. It was fortune, and it all was bad for Pacific in the waning moments.

The Tigers (20-10) couldn't grab the handle on two missed free throws, and some questionable calls down the stretch, at least in the Tigers' minds, helped Utah State earn a 69-65 nail-biter at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The Aggies (23-6) will play for their fifth Big West Tournament title against UC Santa Barbara at 9 p.m. today. The Gauchos defeated UC Irvine 66-61 in the other semifinal. Utah State is the two-time defending tournament champion and will appear in its fourth tournament title game in five years.

"They weren't calling stuff when were getting raked, and then they'd call it when we brushed them,'' said Tigers senior center Mike Preston, who had his second double-double in the tournament with 16 points and 10 rebounds. ''But we knew it was going to be physical. We had so many opportunities. We didn't want it to end like that."

The way it ended was especially bitter for Preston and seven other seniors who played their last game for Pacific. The Tigers entered riding a season-best six-game winning streak. They were confident they could match Utah State blow for blow after beating the Aggies 55-51 on Feb. 28 in Stockton. And for 39 minutes and 23 seconds, they were equal to the task.

The score was even for the 14th time, 65-65, after Preston converted inside on a gorgeous up-and-under move. The Tigers set a trap, and the Aggies stepped into it near the sideline at half-court. Somehow, Aggies guard Ronnie Ross found Toraino Johnson, and he was fouled with 18 seconds left.

"The trap worked real well, and we didn't mean to foul," Pacific coach Bob Thomason said. "I thought (Ross) might have stepped out of bounds, but we ended up fouling the right guy."

Johnson, a 68-percent free-throw shooter, made the first to break the tie. His second shot caromed off the rim, bounced off a bevy of hands and into the arms of Utah State guard Tony Brown, who already had burned the Tigers for 28 points.

Eli Nolan quickly committed his fifth foul, and Brown, an 87-percent foul shooter, made his first attempt. The second spun out, and Jono Metzger-Jones of Pacific and Utah State's Brennan Ray grabbed it. Metzger-Jones wrestled the ball away and called time out as he hit the floor, but he was called for traveling, the second phantom traveling call against the Tigers in the second half.

Utah State inbounded the ball and forward Desmond Penigar was fouled with 8.6 seconds remaining. Penigar, who scored 20 points, made both free throws, and a meaningless heave at the basket by Demetrius Jackson bounced off the rim, ending a remarkable game between two evenly-matched and determined teams.

"The game could have gone either way," said Utah State coach Stew Morrill, who's teams have won eight consecutive Big West Tournament games. "The couple (free throws that Brown) missed about gave me a heart attack. But we played solid mentally throughout."

The lead changed 22 times, and the Tigers last had it 63-62 after Jackson's second consecutive 3-pointer with 3:08 left. But on the Aggies' next possession, Brown flopped to the floor attempting a 3-pointer and his defender, Maurice McLemore, was staring at him with his hands up, as if to say, "What did I do?"

Brown made all three free throws to make it 65-63.

"That 3-point foul was on his belly button," Thomason said. "I've never seen a call like that in 30 years of coaching. ... I'm still amazed by that call."

The Tigers brought the ball up the court, and Mike Hahn was open on the right block. He made a nice move to the basket, put up the ball, and Jeremy Vague snuck over from the weak side and slapped the ball off the glass.

Said McLemore, who helped the Tigers reach the tournament final last season, "I would have liked to have made the championship. I think this was the championship game."

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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