March 26, 2014
Final Stats
(Stockton, Calif.) - The host Pacific Tigers ended USD's postseason run with a 75-60 decision in the quarterfinal matchup. Pacific was paced by guard Andrew Bock with 23 points and forward Tony Gill with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Toreros, who finish with a winning record of 18-17, were paced by wing Duda Sanadze off the bench with 16 points. Junior point guard Christopher Anderson was the only other Torero in double-digits with 10 points and 6 assists as USD struggled in the shooting department (20-54, 37.0%).
"(Our shooting) was a credit to Pacific's defense," said Toreros coach Bill Grier, whose team had been averaging 82 points in its two CIT victories. "Pacific was a lot more physical against us than last time here. They spread us out on offense, and we were a little disjointed. Sometimes we came down and just took a shot without making a pass."
In the first half the Toreros overcame an early 10-0 deficit to Pacific with a 20-7 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 20-17 advantage with 7:29 to go. USD's first lead of the game (18-17) came on a Dennis Kramer layup with 8:34 to go. Pacific would gain back the momentum late in the half in taking a 32-24 intermission lead. Tony Gill paced the Tigers with 8 points while Duda Sanadze paced the Toreros with 6 points off the bench. USD struggled in the shooting department making just 7-of-24 shots (29.2%).
USD opened with a 7-0 run out of the gates in the second half to get right back in the contest. In the opening run Jito Kok had a basket and two free throws, and Brett Bailey added an old fashioned three-point play. The Toreros took back their first lead of the second half at 39-38 on a Duda Sanadze basket off an inbounds play. With USD ahead 41-40, Pacific went on an 8-0 run on the strength of two Andrew Bock three-pointers to take back control of the game at 48-41. From there the closest USD would get is 53-50 with 5:33 to go, but it was all Pacific in the final five minutes.
For the game Pacific outrebounded USD 36-31 and outshot the Toreros 48.0% to 37.0%. San Diego struggled to find their range from beyond the three-point arc finishing just 2-of-20, and only totaling 8 assists after dishing out 24 and 21 assists in their first two CIT games.
Joining Pacific (18-15) in the CIT Semifinals (April 1st) will be Yale and VMI who both advanced earlier this evening. Towson State is slated to play at Murray State on Thursday with the winner rounding out the CIT Final Four.
