Photo by Wayne Tilcock / Aggie

Saturday night at Recreation Hall, 28-2 UCD clinched its first-ever NCAA Division II West Regional Championship and secured a spot in the Elite Eight with an 80-52 victory over the 18-12 Seattle Pacific Falcons.

"It's very difficult to play three nights in a row," UCD head coach Bob Williams said. "Seattle Pacific (University) is an outstanding basketball team, but they had to play two very emotional games. I felt confident we would come out quick and alive."

The Aggies were able to do just that as they attacked the rim with reckless abandon - guard Dante Ross drove to the hoop, was fouled and converted a three-point play, wing Chris Vlasic slashed to the bucket for two and wing J.C. Timmons buried a long three-pointer to give UCD a 14-6 lead.

While the Aggies came out en fuego, hitting their first seven of 10 shots, the Falcons hit only two of 17.

"UCD was no doubt the better team," Seattle Pacific head coach Ken Bone said. "They took it to us in every area. Their defense was outstanding, but I should have had a better offensive strategy because we got few good looks at the basket."

The Falcons' big men continually gave themselves second-chance opportunities - they accumulated 13 offensive rebounds in the first half alone. But those numbers were meaningless as all Seattle Pacific players displayed the shooting touch of the College of Notre Dame after hitting a tepid 21 percent in the half - not a successful formula for winning basketball.

UCD led by as many as 16 points before taking a 38-23 advantage into halftime.

Photo by Wayne Tilcock / Aggie

After the intermission, UCD posts Justis Durkee and Jason Cox took over the game. Both outmuscled bigger men to grab rebounds and clean up the missed shots of teammates - Durkee finished his last game at the Rec Hall with 16 points and 13 boards. Cox scored 20 points and had seven boards in earning an all-tournament selection.

"The last few nights we had success on the inside, but tonight we couldn't get anything going," SPU forward Jeff McBroom said. "We knew it was going to be tough - my role on the team is to score and I didn't step up."

McBroom wasn't the only inept Falcon that was dominated by UCD big men - Williams was understandably pleased with his team's physical inside play.

"One of the more dominant performances I've seen in an Aggie uniform during my entire career here was Justis Durkee tonight," Williams said. "With his quickness he beat (Falcon big man) Chuck (Carter) to every position on the floor he wanted to go tonight.

Before one could bat an eye in the second half, UCD had stretched its lead to 20, up 49-29.

But the good old-fashioned whuppin' had the Aggie Pack subdued - it needed something to get crazy about in its ever-present quest to raise the battened down Rec Hall roof. That moment came at 8:37 of the second half when Cox took a pass from Jonathan Surface in the lane and threw down a two-handed, sledgehammer of a dunk that put UCD up 61-31 - the crowd exploded and The Chicken Man went into cardiac arrest.

The remainder of the game offered more of the same, until the final buzzer sounded signaling the beginning of pandemonium at the Rec Hall.

UCD's championship game foray was made possible by its 53-51 semifinal win over Cal State Los Angeles on Friday.

"Give UCD credit, they did a marvelous job," CSULA head coach Dave Yanai said. "Their defense threw off our offensive rhythm - we didn't get into it until the last three minutes."

After leading by five at the half, the Aggies stretched their advantage to as many as 13 before the drama began.

Photo by Wayne Tilcock / Aggie

The Golden Eagles hit big shots down the stretch - forward David Rickenbacker scored eight points, including drilling two threes and his wide-bodied teammate Curtis Ganes was a force inside as UCD's lead dwindled to just two at 53-51.

UCD looked to have the game in hand, as they had the ball with just :16 left, but a Cox pass went off the normally sure hands of Ross, giving CSULA one more chance for glory.

But it was not to be, as Charles Woodard missed a point-blank shot in the lane and Ganes was tied up as the clock expired.

"We were very fortunate to come out with a victory," Williams said. "I was proud of the effort tonight. We play a tough Seattle Pacific team tomorrow night, but I don't think I can screw things up a whole lot between now and tomorrow."

Indeed.

While UCD players enjoyed the moment, they said they realize the work that lies ahead, including a West Texas A&M University team known for its prolific scoring.

"It's nice, but I want three more wins," said Ross, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player. "We have six seniors and I want to send them out on a good note."

Williams agreed.

"This game ranks No. 1 for me until our next," Williams said. "This was the biggest win in our program. Beating Seattle Pacific is much bigger than our win over Bakersfield because this one gets us somewhere."

The Aggies prepare to travel to Louisville, Ky. on March 18 through 21 for the Elite Eight Tournament.