Sports Section - Monday, February 22nd, 1999

Men's basketball splits weekend games, maintains sole possession of first place

Monday
February 22nd
1999

By Pete Laurie
Aggie Senior Staff Writer

For one brief moment, the UC Davis men's basketball team found itself in good position to host the West Regional playoffs. Ranked third in the nation and second in the West behind 17th-ranked Central Washington University, all that stood between a playoff homestand and a road trip for Davis was Cal State Bakersfield - a team that upset the Aggies 73-61 earlier in the California Collegiate Athletic Association season.

But the Bakersfield barrier proved too much to overcome for UCD, which fell to the Roadrunners 86-83 in double overtime in Bakersfield.

The Aggies, however, maintained sole possession of first place in the CCAA due to Grand Canyon University's 69-55 upset of second-place Sonoma State University Saturday. With just two games remaining, UCD maintains a slim one-game lead over SSU and Cal State San Bernardino, which won its 11th straight game Saturday. The Aggies are 20-5 overall and 16-4 in league play.

On Saturday, UCD led 73-70 with eight seconds left to play. However, UCD guard Keith Jackson fouled Bakersfield's Lovell Brown on a three-point attempt and Brown hit all three freebies. The last time the two teams faced each other Brown burned the Aggies for 30 points and was seven of eight from downtown.

During the second overtime, Brown continued to pester the Aggies. Trailing 84-81, UCD freshman post Brent Wyse was fouled underneath after putting in a short layup that put his Aggies within one point. But Wyse would miss the ensuing free throw and Brown, on the Roadrunners' next possession, nailed a short jumper with 15 seconds left that finalized the score at 86-83 after UCD wing Scott Darmstadt's three-point attempt fell harmlessly off the rim.

"They're bigger and stronger and they push and shove," said UCD head coach Brian Fogel of Bakersfield. "They just pushed and shoved us around tonight."

UCD's biggest lead of the game was only six points, while Bakersfield enjoyed several three-point leads throughout regulation. With 1:21 to go Davis had a two-point lead after wing J.C. Timmons made a layup. However, Bakersfield tied it up 19 seconds later after Wendell Cooper hit a jumper. Neither team could seize the lead during the final minute.

The Aggies were led in scoring by Timmons, who had 24, and Ross, who had 22. Post Jason Cox chipped in 16. Brown led Bakersfield with 17 and was followed closely by Toshiro Germany with 16. The Roadrunners improved to 15-10 overall and 12-8 in league.

Friday night, UCD defeated Cal State Stanislaus 90-77 in Turlock. The Aggies were led by Cox with 24 and Ross who added 22. However, the game was closer than the final score indicated, as the Ags had their lead cut to 52-50 with 15:24 remaining. But 11 unanswered points and strong defense put the Warriors away.

"We didn't get rattled," Fogel said. "We moved the ball around well. It's the same thing we've been doing all year so that our opponents can't key in on one person."

Four Aggies scored in double figures Friday. Besides Cox and Ross, post Jordan Moss and Darmstadt had 10 each. For the Warriors, wing Malik Harris was all they could muster. Harris had 32 points and 11 rebounds, six offensive. Both marks led all scorers and rebounders.

The Aggies close out their season next week as they take on Cal State San Bernardino at 7 p.m. Friday and UC Riverside at 8 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game, whichever is later. Both games are in Recreation Hall.