McKnight Boosts Tigers Past 49ers

Clay McKnight scored 17 points and led a second-half surge that lifted Pacific to a 70-59 Big West victory over Long Beach State Saturday night in Stockton.

Pacific’s Bob Thomason became the winningest Tigers coach in history with his 170th career victory, surpassing the 169 wins posted by Dick Edwards, his college coach.

The Tigers (10-8, 5-3 in conference) overcame a shaky start and outscored the 49ers, 62-41, over the final 30 minutes. Long Beach State (8-11, 5-4) folded down the stretch.

Senior forward D’Cean Bryant scored eight straight points to help the 49ers pull to within 53-49 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining, but a three-pointer by McKnight, a junior guard from Mater Dei, braked that momentum.

Junior forward Barry Marvel added 14 points and six rebounds, and freshman reserve Mike Preston scored 12 points. Bryant topped the 49ers with 14 points and Grant Stone had 13.

Stone’s six points and Long Beach State’s pressure defense powered the 49ers to an 18-8 lead while Pacific made only two of its first 12 shots.

But the Tigers rallied behind Marvel’s two three-point shots and outscored the 49ers 22-12 over the final 10 minutes and pulled into a 30-30 tie at the half. Pacific made seven of 12 shots during that span.

Utah State 61, New Mexico State 54--Donnie Johnson led Utah State with 16 points and 14 rebounds to help snap New Mexico State’s nine-game winning streak, at Logan, Utah.

The win keeps Utah State (11-8, 4-4) at .500 and fourth place in the conference. New Mexico State is 15-6, 7-1.

Charles Gosa led New Mexico State with 17 points and 13 rebounds. No other New Mexico State player scored in double figures.

New Mexico State came within one at 55-54 with 1:12 after a Billy Keys three-pointer. After a Johnson layup, Keys twice had a chance to tie the score, but he missed both three-point shots.

Idaho 75, Boise State 72--Guard Josh Toal sank a three-point basket with 39 seconds remaining to break a tie and lift the Vandals at Boise, Idaho.

Idaho (11-8, 6-3) overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to stun the near capacity crowd in the Pavilion. Toal’s basket gave the Vandals a 68-65 lead, their first since early in the game and followed three free throws by Gordon Scott that tied score, 65-65, with 1:10 remaining.

Boise State (13-5, 6-2) took a 42-28 lead with 15:35 left in the game on a basket by forward Abe Jackson. But Idaho continued to fight back, finally catching Boise State with Scott’s free throws in the closing minute.

Scott led Idaho with 27 points and Toal had 15.

Roberto Bergersen led Boise State with 21 points.

Nevada 95, North Texas 87 (OT)--John Burrell scored 34 points and Joao Santos hit a three-pointer with 1:07 left in overtime to help Nevada stop a nine-game losing streak.

Senior Andre McLeod made his first career three-pointer, an off-balance shot with two seconds left in regulation, to force the overtime at 80-80.