Dons complete undefeated home season
Pull away in the second half for a win over Pacific
SR guard Malik Thomas had 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and the Dons shot 57% after halftime to break away for a 71-58 victory over a battling Pacific Tigers team. Turnovers plagued the Tigers at key times, especially in the final 20 minutes, as USF made life difficult for Tigers offensive decision makers, blitzing ball screens and sending doubles at different times - Both 6’4” Lamar Washington and 6’6” Elijah Fisher had to deal with several different coverages and the two combined for 10 turnovers, many in the second half leading to easy San Francisco transition scores. Add in a 3 for 25 (12%) effort from three and poor free throw shooting and the result was a sluggish road loss albeit to a team that was undefeated at home this season.
Still, the Tigers generally dug in defensively (Dons shot only 4-26 from three in a classic Dicky V-esque “brick city” night from downtown for both teams) - Pacific had it to three at 43-40 early in the second half despite missing five of their first 11 from the stripe including a missed front end. But USF then went on a 12-5 run that included a breakaway slam by 6’6” FR Tyrone Riley IV off a Washington turnover and Pacific would get no closer. Later a 7-0 Dons run gave the home side their largest lead at 64-49.
The Tigers did lead by one at the half, but San Francisco scored the first 7 points of the second half to take a six-point lead. Pacific had one last run left, evening the game at 39 on an “and 1” for 6’7” Elias Ralph - he missed the ensuing free throw and was just 3 for 7 from the foul line, finishing with just 7 points on 2-7 shooting.
The first 11 1/2 minutes of the game were played at Pacific’s pace - Dons missed their first 13 threes and the Tigers led 15-10 early forcing a San Francisco timeout. Enter little-used 6’7” SO Kris Keinys for Pacific who was active immediately finished a tough ally-oop from Washington, knocking down an open three (was he even on the Dons scout?) and then hammering home a pair of dunks including another nice feed off a Villanova cut from Washington. Keinys had 10 of 12 his points in the first half and added 9 rebounds in a promising effort. But USF was able to cut it to one on a buzzer beating banker as the first half ended.
While Pacific was in the game, down just three with 11 1/2 minutes to play, an inability to read double teams and off ball defensive rotations by the Dons resulted in a slew of turnovers at key moments, sealing their fate in a game where Washington, Ralph and Krivokapic (0-4 in 22 minutes) did not have their best games.
Fisher played all 40 minutes and finished with 23 points and 5 boards but missed three free throws including a front-end. Lamar was just 3-13 and 0-6 from three in a lackluster 38-minute performance during which Pacific’s likely MVP was paid extra special attention.
With the loss, Pacific can only max out at six WCC conference victories heading into their home game against Portland at 4 PM PT this Saturday. The Tigers have an outside shot at the #7 seed in the conference but would have to win out including a victory next week at home against 10-5 Santa Clara and have Wazzu lose all of their next three games (Santa Clara and San Diego at home and at Pepperdine). Most practically, a spot in the second round, #8 vs #9 game at the WCC tournament in Las Vegas would be an accomplishment.