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Date Posted: 10:43:45 02/11/02 Mon
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tigers road woes

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Originally Published Monday, February 11, 2002
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Tigers' road woes continue

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Maurice McLemore suffered cramps throughout his body after Thursday's game at UC Santa Barbara. Mike Hahn had a small cut under his right eye as a result of Saturday's physical matchup at Cal Poly.

Effort wasn't the problem last week for the University of the Pacific's men's basketball team. The Tigers made too many mistakes and missed too many shots on their Central Coast road trip, and returned home with no hope of earning the Big West regular-season championship.

Pacific has dropped to 1-6 in conference road games and sits in sixth place with six games remaining, including four at home, before the conference tournament begins on March 7 in Anaheim.

''It just continues on the road,'' said senior center Mike Preston after the Tigers' 70-57 loss at UC Santa Barbara. ''We dug ourselves a hole and came back, and then took a couple questionable shots. We didn't get stops when we needed. We haven't been holding people down like we have at home.''

The Tigers (14-8, 6-6 Big West) haven't won a conference game away from home since their Big West opener at Idaho on Dec. 12. Pacific was fortunate to come away with a 52-48 decision in that one after shooting just 31.6 percent from the floor. But the Tigers aren't the only Big West team struggling away from home this year.

Only two of the conference's 10 teams have winning overall records on the road. Utah State is 7-3 and UC Irvine is 6-3. In conference games, three teams are above .500 away from home: UC Irvine (5-1), Utah State (5-2) and UC Santa Barbara (4-3). Cal State Fullerton (0-7) is the only Big West team with a worse conference road record than the Tigers.

If Pacific's players or coaches had answers for their shortcomings on the road, they wouldn't be losing. Still, the search continues and has for some time. Pacific is 9-22 in conference road games since 1998-99.

''I wish I knew the answer why,'' Pacific coach Bob Thomason said prior to Saturday's 84-79 loss at Cal Poly. ''We didn't get the ball inside (against UC Santa Barbara), and we're not getting enough shots for Mike Preston and Mike Hahn. On defense, we're making too many mistakes. I don't know why the defense is different.''

McLemore, who led the Tigers with 19 points against Cal Poly, said he and his teammates are more comfortable at Spanos Center. The same could be said by every player in the conference about his home floor.

After Saturday's loss, the senior guard said, ''We made bad plays when we needed good plays, and they seemed to come up with the rebound or loose ball or steal or something. They outfought us when they needed it.''

The Tigers' road problems are the symptom of a balanced conference. There isn't a dominant team in the Big West. The number of surprising outcomes suggests any team can beat another any night.

Cal State Fullerton lost to Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara by a combined three points. Cal State Northridge beat UC Irvine in overtime, 73-72 on Jan. 19. Long Beach State went to Logan, Utah, and nearly upset Utah State 70-66 on Jan. 12. Utah State and UC Irvine split their season series by winning on the other team's home court.

It has been an interesting race, thus far. The conference tournament promises to be wide open.

''Every game is such a challenge in this conference,'' Cal Poly coach Kevin Bromley said on Saturday. ''During the course of any game, bad things are going to come at you. It's a matter of can you maintain your focus when something happens to you.''

The Tigers can't do anything to change past outcomes. They must learn from their mistakes in time to win their remaining road games -- Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 21 and UC Riverside on Feb. 23 -- and gain some confidence entering the Big West Tournament. Last year, Pacific was 4-4 in conference road games and emerged from the fifth seed to the championship game.

''Nobody wants to lose on the road,'' Tigers senior forward Eli Kiedrowski said on Friday. ''But it does seem to be a thorn in our side.''

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

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