Mar 2, 1998: (9) Stephen F Austin (14-14, 8-8) vs (1) Sacramento St (18-9, 12-4)
Our RPI is only 73. If we want to play in the NCAA tournament, we have to win the conference tournament.
1st Half
- 13:46, Down 11-12.
- 7:25, Up 27-25. We're early in the penalty once again. Both teams shooting more than 50% FG. We started going favor inside.
- Halftime, up 41-37. Our slightly better FG shooting (59-53%) offsetting SFA +12 advantage in FTAs
2nd Half- 15:22, Up 50-47. We started the 2nd half with a 9-0 run, but just as quickly, SFA countered with a 10-0 run afterwards.
- 11:55, Down 52-53. After our hot start, shots have not been falling since.
- 7:57, Up 60-59. We turned on our defense and forced some turn overs, to get easy transition pts.
- 3:27, Up 66-63. SG Morrow Tiggs and SF Lamoni Williams each hitting a 3, but SFA continue to pile up pts from the FT line.
C Mike Holiday gets a block. On the ensuing offensive play, Holiday worked his way inside and gets an inside basket. Holiday is tired, but the senior is giving it all here, with 19 pts. Up 5. SFA responds with an inside basket also. Up 3. SG Morrow Tiggs called for too many steps; turn over #15 for us. SFA missed, but they get the off rebound. SFA resets their play, but they missed their 2nd chance opportunity. We get the def rebound. SF Lamoni Williams missed a 3. SFA turns the ball over, #17 for them. Timeout.
Up 68-65, 1:50.
SFA steals the pass. But we get a counter steal. We can't get the ball inside. SG Morrow Tiggs had to settle for a 3; he missed. SFA rebounds and called a timeout.
Up 68-65, 0:56.
SFA missed, but the refs said there was a foul. 2 FTs for SFA; they hit both. Timeout.
Up 68-67, 0:49.
SG Morrow Tiggs had 2 attempts from 3; both missed. SFA secures the rebound, and calls a timeout.
Up 68-67, 0:32.
We forced a turn over! Timeout.
Up 68-67, 0:22.
We can slow down, and wait for their foul. SFA fouls quickly. 1-and-1 for SG Morrow Tiggs; and Tiggs hits both pressure FTs.
Up 70-67, 0:20.
We need to defend the 3. But we got called for a foul, before SFA can take the shot. Double bonus, so 2 FTs for SFA; they hit both. I called my last timeout.
Up 70-69, 0:16.
SFA fouls again. SG Morrow Tiggs to the line again. Tiggs missed the front-end. But PF Jordan Davis with the big off rebound. Davis follows up, missed, but got fouled. 2 FTs for Davis; Davis hit's the 1st, but missed the 2nd. SFA gets the def rebound. We're up 2. 0:11 left. SFA has no timeout.
We press. SFA able to cross the timeline. Refs whistled again. Foul on SG Morrow Tiggs! Oh no. I tried my best to not get a T. 2 FTs for SFA's SG Johnny Granville, who is 6-6 FT today. Granville hits both.
Tied at 71, 0:05.
SFA pressed, and we didn't have time to put up a shot. We go to OT.
Overtime- 2:56, Up 73-71. We need to muster some more energy, and find a way to win. We made 3 successful defensive stops, while SF Lamoni Williams able to hit a jumper.
SF Lamoni Williams missed a 3. SFA had 2 chances to score, but they missed; SFA is 0-6 FG in OT so far. SFA called for a foul. Double bonus, and 2 FTs for PG Steve Hemsley; he splits. Up 3. Another miss by SFA, and ball goes out of bounds; our ball.
Up 74-71, 2:07 OT.
SG Morrow Tiggs, who struggled towards the end of regulation, hits a clutch jumper from the left corner. Up 5. PG Steve Hemsley gets a steal. But SF Lamoni Williams missed his shot; that would have been a big basket if it went it. SFA now has the ball. SFA's PG able to get away from his defender, and scores on a drive.
Up 76-73, 1:07 OT
SG Morrow Tiggs and drains a 3! Tiggs (21 pts) scoring our last 5 pts. Timeout SFA.
Up 79-73, 0:58 OT
SFA missing their shot again; they are 1-9 FG in OT. We can slow down now. SFA had to foul quickly. SG Morrow Tiggs splits his FTs. Up 7. SFA not quitting, and they connect on a 3pt shot. Up 4. SFA fouls again. PG Steve Hemsley splits his FTs again. Up 5. Tiggs called for his 5th foul. SFA able to convert just 1 FT. I called my only remaining timeout in OT.
Up 81-77, 0:27 OT
We were able to dribble some seconds off, before SFA able to foul. PG Steve Hemsley missed both FTs! Wow; this is not yet over. SFA will surely shoot a 3. But we got called for another foul before they can shoot. 2 FTs for SFA; they hit both.
Up 81-79, 0:14 OT.
We have 2 PGs on the floor now. SFA quick with the foul. Now, its walk on PG Nyah Celuck to be tested on the line. Celuck hits both! Whew.
Up 83-79, 0:12 OT
SFA hits a quick 3.
Up 83-82, 0:05 OT
We were able to dribble the ball away, and time expired. Those 2 FTs by PG Nyah Celuck turned out to be very big, as it gave us a 2 possession lead. That was a close one.
Final Score: Stephen F Austin - 82, Sacramento St - 83
Box Scores
[INDENT]Tiggs 22, 6, 2, 6 tos, fouled out (*)
Holiday 19, 4, 2, 2 blks
Celuck 10, 2, 4
Hemsley 10, 1, 3, 2 stls
Williams 7, 4, 0
Davis 6, 13, 3, 2 stls
Reid 5, 1, 0
Osbourne 2, 3, 1, 2 stls
McIntosh 2, 0, 1, fouled out
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 45-37%
REB: -5
TO: -5 (16-21)
Pts in paint: +6
2nd chance: Even
Fast break: Even
[/INDENT]