Leopards brawl Tigers in overtime
Campus Times
February 14, 1997
Senior forward Scott Fitzgerald helped lead the men's basketball team
to a 58-41 win over Caltech Saturday night. The men play at home Saturday
against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, travel to Whittier on Wednesday and finish
the season at home against Cal Lutheran Feb. 26.
The men's basketball team came to play Wednesday night. Not only did
the Leopards force two overtime periods, but the Leopards also overcame
a first half deficit for the first time all season to win in dramatic fashion
over the Occidental Tigers, 106-104.
Sophomore guard Chad Duggins hit a tip-in basket after he had grabbed
his own rebound to give the Leopards (4-6 conference, 8-12 overall) a 105-104
lead with 21 seconds to play in the second overtime.
After a missed shot from the Tigers, Leopards' junior forward Chris
Moreland came up with the rebound. Moreland then pushed the ball up court
and was fouled with 4.6 seconds to go. He sank one of the two free throws
to ice the victory.
"I'm relieved as a coach, but I'm happy for the guys. This [win]
will keep them mentally in our practices and in what we are trying to do
as a team," said head coach Terry Boesel.
The Leopards opened the first half with great defense on the Tigers'
star, sophomore center Morgan Bell. Bell came in averaging nearly 24 points
per game, and with a good three inches on La Verne senior center Scott Fitzgerald,
Bell looked to continue his scoring.
With double and triple teams on Bell throughout the first half, the
Leopards kept him quiet. He did not get to his 24-points-per-game mode until
under five minutes to play in the first half. By that time, the play of
Duggins and Fitzgerald had kept La Verne out in front.
Duggins pulled ULV within one with a jump-shot and a follow-up tip-in.
But as time expired, Tigers' freshman guard Eli Engle dribbled through the
La Verne defense and hit a three-point basket to give Occidental a 52-48
halftime lead.
When asked about his team's performance in games which they are trailing
at halftime, Boesel replied, "I don't notice those stats. People say
the percentages are against you, but I don't pay any attention to the odds.
"
Junior guard Dale Schroeder opened the second half scoring by nailing
a three-point basket for La Verne to cut the Tiger lead to 52-51.
Bell pulled Occidental out by five by hitting on two consecutive possessions.
But the two teams then put on a three-point shooting contest.
The Leopards' junior guard Paul Celeya hit from behind the arch to cut
the lead to one. Then after a steal, Celeya sank yet another three-point
basket.
The Tigers answered with their own long ball when Engle connected to
regain the Occidental one point lead. Celeya brought the crowd to its feet
and forced the Tigers to take a time out when he sank the money ball which
pulled the Leopards ahead, 64-62, with 11:55 left in the game.
"I remember saying in regulation, 'Whoever flinches from behind
the three-point line would lose this game,'" Boesel said.
Freshman guard Jimmy Alapag pulled down a rebound and pushed the ball
up-court. He delivered a pass to junior forward Ivan Battle for a score
and a 72-68 lead.
After a Moreland basket cut the Occidental lead to 82-79 with under
four minutes to play, Alapag drove the floor and penetrated the Tiger defense.
The teams then exchanged free throws until 51 seconds to go in regulation.
Alapag was fouled while driving the lane. The Leopards needed both free
throws to tie the game at 87, and Alapag delivered them to send the game
into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Tigers built two four-point leads, but ULV
did not give up. Duggins hit a jump-shot and was fouled with 52 seconds
left.
The Tigers missed the ensuing basket, and Moreland came down with the
rebound. Duggins took a shot but missed his attempt. He followed his miss
and was fouled with 3.3 seconds remaining in the first overtime. Duggins
missed the first shot from the charity stripe but made the second to force
a second overtime.
Duggins finished with 30 points in the 106-104 win, the second in a
row for La Verne. The Leopards defeated Caltech on Saturday night, 58-41.
The Leopards' next game is tomorow night at home against Claremont at 7:30
p.m.