Seventh-Seeded Pacific Cruises to 71-54 Win Over No. 6 Northridge
Steffan Johnson and Reggie Vezia each scored a game-high 16 points for No. 7 Pacific, which defeated sixth-seeded Cal State Northridge 71-54 on Wednesday during the first round of the Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
The Tigers (12-18) advance to the quarterfinals where they will play third-seeded Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the ACC Arena. The game will be televised live on KVMD-TV.
Anthony Esparza also scored in double figures for the Tigers, adding 12 points. For the Matadors (14-17), Thomas Shewmake posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards, while Calvin Chitwood came off the bench for 13.
Cal State Northridge led only once at 6-4 at the 16-minute mark of the first half, with Pacific going on a 14-4 run over the next 4:30 to take an 18-10 advantage. The Tigers increased their lead to as many as 15 in the first half before taking a 38-24 lead to the locker room.
It was more of the same in the second half, as the Matadors were unable to close the deficit to below nine. With Pacific leading 50-35, it appeared Cal State Northridge might get back into it with back-to-back threes to make it 50-41 with 11:30 left. But the Tigers pulled away, getting their advantage back up to double figures and to as many as 20 before eventually winning by 17.
Pacific shot 46.7% (21-for-45) for the game, including 51.7% (15-for-29) during the first half. The Tigers were also on from beyond the arc, making 8-of-18 (44.4%). Cal State Northridge went 35.3% (18-for-51) from the field and 63.2% (12-for-19) from the line.
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No. 5 UC Irvine Avoids Upset, Comes Back to Beat No. 8 UC Riverside
Fifth-seeded UC Irvine came back from an 18-point, first-half deficit and spoiled No. 8 UC Riverside's upset bid, escaping with a 53-52 victory on Wednesday during the first round of the Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
The Anteaters (14-17) advance to the quarterfinals where they will take on No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at the ACC Arena. The game will be televised live on KVMD-TV.
Patrick Sanders led UC Irvine with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Nic Campbell added 10. For UC Riverside (7-24), Larry Cunningham was the lone player in double figures with a game-high 19 points.
UC Irvine led only once in the first half at 3-2 in the early minutes before UC Riverside scored six unanswered and 18 of the next 23 points to take a 20-8 advantage nine minutes into the contest. The Anteaters netted four in a row to cut the deficit to eight, but the Highlanders responded with 10 consecutive points to go up by their biggest margin at 30-12 with eight minutes left in the first half. UCI sliced its deficit to single digits late in the first half, but still trailed by eight at 34-26 at the break.
The Highlanders led throughout most of the second half, but began to struggle from the field, allowing the Anteaters to get back into it. UCR still led by four, but a basket by Sanders and a pair of free throws by Campbell squared the game at 45 with 4:30 remaining. On the next possession, the Anteaters forced a steal and Marcus McIntosh scored on a breakaway to give Irvine its first lead since the 17:35 mark of the first half.
Riverside hung tough though, with Cunningham scoring back-to-back hoops to give the Highlanders the lead back at 49-47 with 2:45 to go. Irvine scored the next four points on two free throws by Sanders and a basket by Mark Kelley, but two from the stripe by Dedrick Bates evened it at 51. With one minute remaining, Kelley's jumper gave UCI the 53-51 lead. Bates would get fouled on the next UCR possession, but made only one of two to make it 53-52. The Anteaters would turn the ball over on their final trip, giving the Highlanders a chance to win it, but UC Riverside made a miscue of its own to end the game and give UC Irvine the victory.
The Anteaters rebounded from a 34.8% shooting effort in the first half, making 45% (9-of-20) after intermission. UCI was also solid from the line, going 17-of-20 (85%) from the charity stripe. The Highlanders shot 33.3% (18-for-54) for the game and 21.1% (4-for-19) from three-point range. UC Riverside took care of the ball well, committing just six turnovers, but the last one was the difference for the Highlanders.
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