C Loren Eisley still injured (75%, 7 days); won't play
Mar 16, 2001: (15) Mount St. Mary (19-11, 9-5) vs (2) #6 UCLA (28-3, 16-2)
Scouting Report
- Primary defense: M2M
- Offense focus: Outside
- Key players:
- So SF Neil Stone (14.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 44% 3PT, All-Conf)
- Sr G/F Reggie Gunn (12.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 44% 3PT, All-Conf)
- Strengths:
- Scoring: 69.9 ppg (#74)
- Ball handling: 13.3. topg (#77)
- Weaknesses:
- Shooting pct: 43.6% FG (#193), 34.3% 3PT (#190)
- Rebounding: 30.6 rpg (#198)
- How they got here:
- Finished 2nd NEC; Won Conference Tournament
Strategies- Just play our brand of harassing defense, and force them to commit turn overs
Start of 1st halfA rather shaky start. We missed our 1st 5 shots from downtown, but made our last 2. We're playing good defense, limiting MOUNT to 33% FG, and forcing 4 turn overs already. But we have given up 4 off rebounds to MOUNT already.
Up 10-8, 12:54. We hit 3 more triples, and 4 successful low post plays. But MOUNT is making their shots as well, as our defense is not as effective as it was earlier in the game.
Up 28-21, 7:30. MOUNT can't connect from 3, but had converted on several drive plays. The difference on 3PT shooting is the story of the game so far.
Halftime, Up 41-29.
Key stats / Notes (Halftime)- 3PT shooting: MOUNT 0-7, UCLA 6-13
- Rebounds: MOUNT 21, UCLA 13
- We need to do a better job in rebounding if we want to put MOUNT away for good. And make those FTs; we're 5-13 FT in the 1st half
Start of 2nd halfMOUNT, who went 0-7 3PT in the 1st half, has converted 4-7 3PT in less than 7 mins of the 2nd half. They have cut our halftime lead in half.
Up 52-46, 13:37. After C Troy Jones converted a 3pt lead opportunity that increased our lead to 9, MOUNT came back back strong with a 6-0 run, and our lead cut to 3. On MOUNT's next posession, they hit their 5th 3 of the game and we are tied! We have a tight game here in our hands. I called an early timeout.
Tied at 55, 9:45.
I am not happy during the huddle, as our defense has given up 26 pts in just over 10 mins of play in the 2nd half (MOUNT scored just 29 ots the entire 1st half). PG Mac Jefferson hit a 3 after our timeout. Up 3. But MOUNT answered back with another 3. Tied again. We miss a 3. MOUNT got 3 consecutive off rebounds on the next play; fortunately they missed every shot, but I'm very worried on our performance so far. We miss another 3; we're 1-8 3PT in the 2nd half. MOUNT comes back and hits a 3, and they take the lead since 4-2 very early in the game.
Down 58-61, 8:03.
I signaled to the team that we'll go favor inside. C Lee Maloney got fouled inside; Maloney hits 2 FTs. Down 1. C Troy Jones got a block, and we get the ball. Jones powers his way inside, but missed the shot. MOUNT missed a contested jumper against a double team. We get the rebound. We can't get the ball inside. PG Mac Jefferson attempts a 3, and nails it!
Up 63-61, 6:22.
PG Mac Jefferson gets a steal on the other end. SF Wayne Dryden shots a 3; missed. But Jefferson gets the off rebound. Jefferson got fouled while shooting. Jefferson hits both FTs; MOUNT in penalty.
Up 65-61, 5:49.
We get another block and gets the ball. SG James Davis, who just checked back in earlier, connects on his 4th 3pt shot of the game. We're on a 10-0 run, after getting down by 3 almost 5 mins ago.
Up 68-61, 5:24.
We got called for 2 fouls, and we're in the penalty also. MOUNT hits both FTs. Up 5. MOUNT called for a foul as well. PG Mac Jefferson again hitting his FTs. Up 7. And we get called for a foul. MOUNT missed the front end of their 1-and-1. SF Anthony Gray shoots a 3 from top of they key. BANG!
Up 73-63, 4:09.
But this game not yet over, as MOUNT also hitting a 3, their 8th of the game (all in the 2nd half). Up 7. PG Mac Jefferson trying to answer back; Jefferson hits a 3 from deep left corner.
Up 76-66, 3:37.
We get a steal. But we're called for traveling. We're playing very tight defense, and MOUNT can't get a shot. And then the refs called a hand check foul on C Troy Jones. I was mad at the call; it's Jones' 5th foul. With C Loren Eisley out on an injury, we're suddenly very thin in the front court. MOUNT missed their front end again, but they get the off rebound and the put back is good. Timeout.
Up 76-68, 2:39.
We miss a 3. MOUNT with the ball. We're playing good defense again. MOUNT with only 1 sec on the shot clock. They put up a contested 3. The shot is good! My goodness.
Up 76-71, 1:47.
We go to SF Anthony Gray. Gray with a strong drive to the basket. The basket counts plus a foul! Gray hits the bonus FT.
Up 79-71, 1:33.
MOUNT taking a long time again to find a good shot. And they turned it over. I call another timeout. We'll have to slow things down now.
Up 79-71, 1:09.
MOUNT electing to foul intentionally now. We were able to hit 6 more FTs, plus another 3 at the end, while MOUNT had 4 unsuccessful quick offensive possessions.
Final Score: Mount St. Mary - 71, UCLA - 88Box Scores[INDENT]Gray 23, 6, 0, 2 blks, 3-3 3PT (*)
Jefferson 21, 4, 1, 3 stls, 4-7 3PT
Maloney 14, 7, 1
Davis 14, 1, 5
Jones 9, 4, 1, fouled out
Wallace 3, 3, 0, 3 stls
Weaver 3, 0, 1
Carter 1, 0, 5
Dryden 0, 2, 1
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison[INDENT]FG: 49-50%
REB: -12 (-5 off)
TO: -13 (6-19)
Pts in paint: -2
2nd chance: -4
Fast break: -1
[/INDENT]
Notes- Final score certainly not indicative of how close this game is. We had a torrid 30-10 run in the last 8 mins of the game.
- After going 5-13 FT in the 1st half, we went 15-18 FT in the 2nd half. Very timely recovery.
