Brandon Johnson looks for daylight against San Francisco's Antonio Kellogg. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

Men's Basketball

Toreros Best Dons to Earn WCC Semifinal Berth

March 3, 2007

Final Stats

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Ross DeRogatis had 17 points and five rebounds and San Diego rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit then held off San Francisco 77-75 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament.

Fifth-seeded San Diego (18-13) faces top-seeded Gonzaga in the semifinals on Sunday at the University of Portland's Chiles Center.

Manny Quezada had 16 points and five assists for the fourth-seeded Dons (13-18), who had defeated San Diego in both of the teams' regular season games.

The Toreros trailed by as many as 10 points, but climbed back into the lead in the second half. Danny Brown hit the second of consecutive 3-pointers, Nir Cohen made a layup and De'Jon Jackson had a tip-in to put San Diego ahead 67-58.

Quezada hit a layup for the Dons to close to within 74-70 with 25.13 seconds left. After three straight San Diego free throws put it all but out of reach, Danny Cavic hit a 3-pointer and Quezada added the final basket.

The two teams traded the lead throughout the first half. San Diego led early after Gyno Pomare's jumper made it 10-5. But the Dons kept it close and went ahead 23-21 on Armondo Surratt's 3-pointer with 7:12 to go.

Surratt had not played in San Francisco's previous six games because of a left knee injury.

San Francisco extended the lead to 34-24 on an 10-0 run capped by consecutive 3-pointers from Quezada and Johnny Dukes.

Brandon Johnson's 3-pointer for San Diego narrowed it to 36-29 at the half. Dukes led all scorers at the break with 11 points and five rebounds.

The Toreros closed the gap to open the second half and tied it at 41 on Ray Murdock's 3-pointer. But the Dons to 39-38 to open the second-half.

San Diego took a 45-43 lead, its first of the second half, on Gyno Pomare's layup. The Toreros went up 52-49 after leading scorer Ross DeRogatis hit a 3-pointer.

San Diego defeated Pepperdine 95-82 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Dons had a bye.

San Francisco tied for third in the conference standings this season but was seeded fourth because of a pair of losses to St. Mary's.

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Players Mentioned

Danny Brown

#13 Danny Brown

Guard
6' 4"
Sophomore
1V
Nir Cohen

#34 Nir Cohen

F-C
6' 7"
Senior
1V
Ross DeRogatis

#14 Ross DeRogatis

Guard
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
2V
De

#23 De'Jon Jackson

Guard
6' 2"
Freshman
HS
Brandon Johnson

#4 Brandon Johnson

Point Guard
6' 0"
Sophomore
1V
Ray Murdock

#15 Ray Murdock

G/F
6' 3"
Sophomore
1V
Gyno Pomare

#21 Gyno Pomare

Forward
6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
1V

Players Mentioned

Danny Brown

#13 Danny Brown

6' 4"
Sophomore
1V
Guard
Nir Cohen

#34 Nir Cohen

6' 7"
Senior
1V
F-C
Ross DeRogatis

#14 Ross DeRogatis

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
2V
Guard
De

#23 De'Jon Jackson

6' 2"
Freshman
HS
Guard
Brandon Johnson

#4 Brandon Johnson

6' 0"
Sophomore
1V
Point Guard
Ray Murdock

#15 Ray Murdock

6' 3"
Sophomore
1V
G/F
Gyno Pomare

#21 Gyno Pomare

6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
1V
Forward