Sat July 26, 2008
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Anteaters Edge Pacific 57-56 in Big West QuarterfinalsMarch 13, 2008
ANAHEIM, Calif. --- Senior forward Patrick Sanders blocked the potential game-winning shot just before the final horn to give UC Irvine a 57-56 win over Pacific Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big West Conference Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center. With the victory, the fifth-seeded Anteaters advance to a semifinal showdown with top-seeded UC Santa Barbara Friday at 5:30 p.m. Cal State Northridge meets Cal State Fullerton in the other semifinal at 8:00 p.m. UCI, clinging to its one-point lead with 16 seconds remaining, turned the ball over in the backcourt and Pacific called timeout with 5.9 seconds left. C.J. Morgan's three-point attempt from the left side was off the mark but the Tigers' Michael Kirby attempted a short follow on the right baseline that was blocked by Sanders to end the game. Sanders also blocked a shot in the lane by Steffan Johnson with just over a minute left. Sophomore guard Michael Hunter led UCI (17-15) with 17 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the field including 4 of 6 threes. He scored 14 points in the game's first eight minutes as the Anteaters went up 30-25 at intermission after leading by as many as 14 in the first half. UCI built the lead back up to 14 points several times in the second half, the last at 49-35 on a pair of free throws by Darren Fells with 7:18 left. Pacific's pressure caused five Anteater turnovers in the ensuing 4 ½ minutes as the Tigers drew within 55-52 on a Johnson three-pointer with 2:44 remaining. Two free throws by freshman guard Patrick Rembert put UCI up 57-52 with 2:24 left, but Casey Neimeyer converted a layup at the 1:52 mark and Bryan LeDuc scored a basket with 16 seconds remaining to set up the final drama. Fells had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Anteaters in recording his sixth double-double of the season and the 15th of his career. Marcus McIntosh scored nine points while Sanders had eight points, nine boards and three blocks. Rembert added five points and four assists. Anthony Brown led Pacific (21-10) with 12 points and nine rebounds while Chad Troyer scored 10 points. Neither team shot well as UCI was 39.5 percent from the field and Pacific 35.3 percent. The Anteaters hit 11 of 13 free throws in the second half. Friday night marks UCI's 13th appearance in the Big West Tournament semifinals as UCI has advanced to the championship game just twice in history. |
