Bearkats Win O.T. Thriller 65-63 Over UC-Irvine
by Cheval John
Huntsville, TX-The Bearkat basketball team was pushed to their limits yesterday against a really good University of California-Irvine Anteaters in the final game of the Progressive Legends Classic Subregional.
The Bearkats knew that they had to give it their all if they wanted to beat an Anteater’s team that went toe to-toe with UCLA Bruins a week ago and narrowly losing to Southern Mississippi the day before.
They did just that in overtime behind a go-ahead, game-winning shot by Darius Gatson with 15 seconds left for a 65-63 win over UC-Irvine.
“I came off the screen. … .I was hoping to turn the corner and got some contact and I was able to get the shot,”
Gatson said.
“It was a big play for us.”
The Bearkats totaled 47 rebounds in the game. Most of the rebounds came on the offensive side of the ball that produced 18 second chance points.
Terrance Motley and Michael Holyfield had eight rebounds apiece.
“They both played really well,” head coach Jason Hooten said.
“Defensive end is technique and offensive end is just heart. We got 17 offensive rebounds. That’s just the will to go get it.”
“(Terrance) Motley got five and (Michael) Holyfield got four. … .That give’s you extra possession everytime.”
The Bearkats opened the game on a 12-2 run. They were leading 19-9 at one point before UC-Irvine came storming back with a 10-1 run of their own to cut the lead to 20-19.
When it was all said and down, the Bearkats were leading 30-25 at halftime.
Then things got really interesting as the Anteaters opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 31-30 lead behind a three-pointer by Mike Best and a pair of buckets by Will Davis II.
From there, it was an all-out battle by both teams as they were five lead changes and three ties.
With the score tied at 58, the Bearkats had an opportunity to win it in regulation, but couldn’t convert that allowed the game to go into overtime.
UC-Irvine went on a 5-3 run to lead at 63-61 with about two minutes left in overtime.
“I was sitting there thinking, ‘we’re going to win this game,'” Hooten said.
“Even when we got down in overtime, I just knew one of these guys were going to make a play.”
That turned out to be the case.
After Motley’s free throw that cut the lead to 63-62, Gatson made a huge steal that gave the Bearkats a shot at winning the game in the final seconds.
Gatson, who finished with 13 points, drove to the basket and laid it in for the go-ahead score at 64-63.
UC-Irvine couldn’t convert to tie it up and Gatson made one of his free throws to increase the lead to 65-63.
Then in desparation, the Anteaters threw up a prayer, but missed with time running out with the Bearkats celebrating a huge win.
DeMarcus Gatlin lead the Bearkats with 15 points, five rebounds and one steal.
Adam Folker led UC-Irvine with 13 points while Davis II had 12.
With thanksgiving weekend, the players and coaches will use this time to rest before they get back to work in preparation for Tuesday’s matchup against the University of Texas at Austin.
“It’s another game for us,” Hooten said.
“I know they’re really good. They won two out of three in Maui and I know they will be ready.”
“We will be ready too.”
The Longhorn’s only loss in Maui came against Charminade, a D-II school, but coach Hooten doesn’t see this game as a David vs. Goliath match.
“I wouldn’t look at it like that,” Hooten said.
“This may sound crazy to everybody, but we expect to go play well and have a chance to win no matter who we play.”
UC-Irvine Defeats Liberty 64-45 In First Game Of Progressive Legends Classic
by Cheval John
University of California-Irvine Anteaters opened the 2012 Progressive Sub-Regional Round with a 65-46 win over the Liberty Flames.
The win upped the Anteaters’ record to 2-1 for the season while the Flames are 0-3.
Daman Starring led UC-Irvine with 12 points and three rebounds. Chris McNealy contributed with 10 points, 3 assists, and two rebounds.
The first half started off competitive as both teams trade a total of 12 points in the opening minutes.
The Flames went on a 9-7 run to increase to lead 17-13.
But the Anteaters answered with an 18-7 run to have a 30-24 lead by halftime.
From there, Irvine blew the game wide open with a 14-6 run to increase their lead at 44-31 thanks to a pair of baskets by Starring, John Ryan, Will Davis II and Conor Clifford.
They went on to cruised to an easy 64-46 win.
Davon Marshall led the Flames with 12 points, 4 assists and three rebounds. Tavares Speaks followed with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal.
The Flames shot 33% from the field and made six free throws out of sixteen attempts.
Bearkat Basketball Hosts Progressive Sub-Regional
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston State will host three top NCAA Division I opponents in November as SHSU participates in the Progressive Legends Classic Nov. 19-21.
UC-Irvine, Liberty and Southern Mississippi will visit Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville for the event.
The tournament will feature a round-robin schedule with two games each evening.
Southern Mississippi defeated Georgia in overtime Thursday and brings a 3-0 record into the tournament.
UC-Irvine is 2-1 with the Anteaters’ only loss by one point to UCLA in overtime.
Monday will see Sam Houston host Southern Mississippi while Liberty and UC-Irvine match up.
On Tuesday, the Bearkats play Liberty and USM and the Anteaters battle.
On the final evening of the tournament, Sam Houston takes on UCI and USM and Liberty face.
“Having the opportunity to play three outstanding NCAA Division I teams on our home floor here in Huntsville is really exciting,” Hooten said.
“It’s great for our program and it’s great for area fans.”
Southern Miss has been to Huntsville once, with the Bearkats winning 61-57 in 2005.
Last season the Golden Eagles finished 11-5 and second place in Conference USA play.
They finished the year 25-11 overall and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 9-seed.
They lost their opening game to Kansas State 70-64.
The Kats and Golden Eagles have faced each other twice, with each winning once.
UC-Irvine visited Johnson Coliseum in 2007 where the Kats pulled off a 61-54 win.
Last season the Anteaters were 12-20 overall and 6-10 in the Big West.
They won the Big West Conference Tournament opening game over first place Long Beach State, before losing in the semifinals to Loyola Marymount.
The Kats and Anteaters have faced each other twice, with each taking care of business at home.
Liberty was the fifth place team in the Big South last season, finishing the year 9-9 in league play and 14-18 overall.
They finished the regular season strong, winning five of their last six games, before losing in the opening round on the Big South Tournament to Charleston Southern.
This will be the first meeting between the Bearkats and the Flames.
Capsules on the Bearkats’ four 2012 Progressive Legends Classic foes:
Liberty Flames – Head Coach: Dale Layer (Big South Conference)
The Flames look to improve upon their 14-win season of a year ago…fourth-year head coach Dale Layer, who has won over 300 games during his coaching career, welcomes back three starters, each of whom averaged double figures – junior guard John Caleb Sanders (11.6 ppg), senior forward Antwan Burrus (11.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and senior guard Tavares Speaks (10.2 ppg).
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles – Head Coach: Donnie Tyndall (Conference USA)
Donnie Tyndall takes over at Southern Miss after leading Morehead State to 114 wins and three straight 20-win seasons in his six years…Tyndall inherits a team that went 25-9 last season and earned its first NCAA bid in 21 years…two starters are back, as is leading scorer Neil Watson, who netted 12.3 ppg as a sophomore…seniors Jonathan Mills (9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Rashard McGill (2.6 ppg) started for the Golden Eagles in 2011-12.
UC Irvine Anteaters – Head Coach: Russell Turner (Big West Conference)
After a season as one of the youngest teams in the nation, UC Irvine returns five starters from a squad that went 12-20 in 2011-12…third-year head coach Russell Turner will rely on the trio of senior forward Michael Wilder (11.5 ppg), senior guard Damon Starring (11.4 ppg, 100 assists), and junior guard Chris McNealy (10.2 ppg) to lead the Anteaters into the postseason for the first time since 2001-02.