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Date Posted: 10:32:57 02/22/02 Fri
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tigers squeak by the Titans
In reply to: Jon Ralston 's message, "Tim Johnson Article" on 10:17:17 02/21/02 Thu

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Originally Published Friday, February 22, 2002
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Tigers tease Titans before holding on

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

FULLERTON -- The University of the Pacific played well enough to beat the worst team in the Big West Conference on its home floor -- barely.

The Tigers were adept at times and not so poised at others. They built an 18-point lead over Cal State Fullerton with less than eight minutes remaining, then tried to give it all back. After some anxious moments, Mike Preston's breakaway slam dunk with 30 seconds remaining sealed the Tigers' 67-61 win on Thursday at Titan Gym.

It was Pacific's first road win in conference since Dec. 12 when it won at Idaho. The Titans, who already are mathematically eliminated from the Big West Tournament, dropped their eighth in a row.

"We played really well right off the bat, and defensively in the first half, we played about as well as we can," Tigers coach Bob Thomason said. "We had about seven or eight fastbreak opportunities, and on about five of those we turned the ball over and didn't capitalize."

Pacific (16-9, 8-7 Big West) was in position to blow the Titans (4-20, 1-14) out of the gym, but mistakes, missed shots and turnovers made the outcome closer than it needed to be.

David Castleton sank a 3-point shot with 48 seconds remaining to bring the Titans within 64-59. The Tigers just needed to take care of the ball and make free throws, but the normally sure-handed Jono Metzger-Jones threw the ball away near Cal State Fullerton's basket. The Titans had a chance to close within two, but Castleton's wide-open 3-point attempt rattled in-and-out of the basket.

Preston worked free behind the Titans' press and took a perfect pass for a breakaway slam that allowed the Tigers to let out a huge sigh of relief, as the largest crowd at Titan Gym this season, 1,521, went for the exits.

"We just did some things that were unbelievable,' Thomason said. "I don't know where it comes from. We don't do those things in practice."

Obviously, the Tigers haven't found an effective way to recreate hostile environments in practice.

"It's just something we have to do and get the job done for 40 minutes," Hahn said. "We're happy any time we get a win, but we would have liked to have finished better. But we'll build on this."

The Tigers will try to make it two in a row on the road at UC Riverside on Saturday.

"UC Riverside is tougher than the team we played (Thursday)," Thomason said. "We went from being real smart to being the opposite in the same game."

The Tigers jumped to a 15-4 lead and took a 31-21 advantage into the locker room at halftime after Titans guard Ryan Dillon made a 3-pointer with six seconds left.

In the second half, Pacific went on a 10-2 run and led 46-30 with 12:09 left. About five minutes later, the Tigers had their biggest lead, 54-36, when the Titans went into a press and created turnovers that led to baskets.

"I get afraid to press early because of fatigue," said Titans coach Donny Daniels, who had seven players contribute significant minutes. "We play better in the press, no question about it."

Preston and Maurice McLemore each scored 17 points to lead Pacific. Hahn and Demetrius Jackson each scored 11.

Pape Sow led the Titans with 18 points.

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

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