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Date Posted: 07:33:07 02/07/02 Thu
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Demetrius Jackson

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Originally Published Thursday, February 7, 2002
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Tigers' guard enjoys his role

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Demetrius Jackson watched the telecast of last year's Big West men's basketball championship between University of the Pacific and Utah State.

Jackson, then a sophomore at Shasta College, was being recruited by both schools at the time, and though Utah State won the game and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, he chose to continue his education and basketball career at Pacific.

''I felt like I could contribute to this team,'' Jackson said. ''I did see myself being able to fit in this system. I liked the plays that I saw and the system, the pace, the tempo. I felt like if I could come in and contribute an extra assist here or there and six to eight points a game, I could help take this team to the next level.''

Whether Jackson can help lead the Tigers (14-6, 6-4 Big West) to the next level remains to be seen. But the 5-foot-10 junior from San Francisco has contributed much more than an extra assist here or there and six to eight points a game.

Jackson enters today's Big West matchup at UC Santa Barbara (12-8, 6-5) averaging a team-high 13.1 points and 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He and senior guard Maurice McLemore have progressed into one of the most productive backcourts in the Big West.

''No question, when (Jackson and McLemore) are on top of their game, they're as good as anybody around,'' Pacific coach Bob Thomason said. ''These games are going to prove how much they've come along.''

Jackson and McLemore combined to score 39 points in Pacific's 74-58 victory over Cal State Northridge on Jan. 31, which kept the Tigers two games out of first place with eight games remaining. They will play at Cal Poly (12-7, 6-5) at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

Jackson said he paid more attention to Pacific's guards during their 50-38 loss to the Aggies on March 10, 2001. He liked how McLemore moved on the court, and the way David Bunts and Jono Metzger-Jones shot the ball.

''I was excited,'' Jackson said.

He scored 37 points in his Division I debut at Santa Clara on Nov. 10. His fast start was a mixed blessing.

''It wasn't that I thought (Division I) was going to be easy,'' Jackson said with his engaging grin. ''I didn't expect to do what I did, but it did give me a lot of confidence.''

Jackson soon discovered how tough it can be. He struggled through six conference games from Jan. 5-24 in which he averaged 7.7 points and 3.6 turnovers. He had seven turnovers at Cal State Northridge on Jan. 5. He didn't start in three games, then bounced back with 13 points, five assists and one turnover in a win over Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 26, then scored 25 points to help beat Cal State Northridge on Jan. 31. Both wins were at Spanos Center.

Jackson has to play consistently on the road, if the Tigers have any hope of running the table and challenging for the Big West title. Jackson has averaged eight points and five turnovers in five conference road game, of which four were losses.

''Matchup-wise, if we come out and play the way we are capable of, we are pretty solid,'' Jackson said. ''I know how we played last time against Santa Barbara and I'm excited to go in there. We're going to play two teams we already beat at home, so they're going to come at us.''

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

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