Weber State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 22
Logan, Utah
5:30 p.m.
Weber State University
66
vs
64
vs. Morehead State
Wildcats Overcome a 33-13 First Half Deficit to Defeat Morehead State, 66-64, in the Second Round of the Basketball Travelers Invitational in Logan, Utah
12/23/2009 4:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
“Never give up. Never Surrender”. The not so immortal words from the movie, Galaxy Quest, were never more true for the Weber State University men's basketball team, Tuesday night in Logan, Utah against a very talented Morehead State University team in the second round of the Basketball Travelers Invitational.
Down 23-3 in the first eight minutes of the first game. and down by 20 again (33-13) with 6:52 left in the half, the Wildcats made their stand beginning with a 15-6 run in those final seven minutes, then out scoring the Eagles 38-25 in the second half, hanging on for a 66-64 victory.
“I told our team at half time to keep their heads up, become more aggressive and to battle back in increments,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “We had a great stretch there of nine or ten minutes where we just imposed our will upon them on the defensive end and didn't let them get a basket. After the game I told them I was really proud of how they stuck together to fight through adversity. A lot of teams would have just shrugged their shoulders and said it wasn't their night, so this game really showed the character of this team and was a great lesson for our younger players and new players.”
The Eagles began the game with a quick 10-0 in the fueled by two three-pointers from STEVE PETERSON. WSU finally got on the board at the 16:44 mark on a three-pointer by NICK HANSEN, but the Eagles responded with an impressive 13-0 scoring run which featured two monstrous dunks by MSU's KENNETH FARIED (6-8, 225) to take a 23-3 lead with 12:02 left in the half.
The scoring run was stopped by a jumper from DARIN MAHONEY and a three-pointer from LINDSEY HUGHEY. The Eagles, however, raced back to another 20-point lead (33-13) on five points from MAZE STALLWORTH with another slam dunk from FARIED sandwiched in-between.
With 6:14 left, the Wildcats regrouped and ran off 12 unanswered points, with five coming from DAMIAN LILLARD, two free throws from KYLE BULLINGER and a three-ball from NICK HANSEN close within eight a 33-25. MAZE STALLWORTH hit two free throws with 1:32 left, then tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer giving the Eagles a 39-28 half time lead. The Eagles hit 13-32 (.406) first half shots and had a lopsided 26-7 rebounding advantage over the Wildcats with 16 of them coming on the offensive glass. STALLWORTH scored 15 of his 21 points in the first 20 minutes and FARIED added 11. LILLARD led the Wildcats with nine points.
The Eagles led 42-30 with 18:14 left in the game on a jumper by DEMONTE HARPER, then went six minutes without scoring while the Wildcats clawed their way back to within two at 42-40 on a free throw by STEVE PANOS. A three-pointer by STALLWORTH and a bucket by TERRANCE HILL put the Eagles back up on top by seven. Morehead would not score another basket until the 1:14 mark when HARPER's jumper gave the Eagles their last lead of the game at 57-56.
The Wildcats took the lead for good when LILLARD sliced down the lane for a nifty lay up with 51 seconds left. DEMONTE HARPER then committed a turnover at the other end and fouled LILLARD who calmly sank both free throws with 33 seconds left putting the 'Cats up 60-57.
After STALLWORTH missed a three-pointer, LINDSEY HUGHEY was fouled and made both shots to make it 62-57 with 22 seconds remaining. The Eagles got a quick basket from DEMONTE HARPER and NICK HANSEN was fouled on the inbounds play. HANSEN made both free throws putting the 'Cats back up by five, but HARPER hit a three-pointer from 27 feet, pulling the Eagles to within two at 64-62 with nine seconds left.
HANSEN was fouled again, and again he made both shots to give WSU a four-point cushion. STALLWORTH missed the three-pointer and KENNETH FARIED made a lay up with one second left before the horn sounded.
Neither team shot particularly well in that second half. Morehead State was just 7-25 (.280) while the Wildcats were only 10-27 (.370), but made 15-20 (.750) second half free throws. MAZE STALLWORTH had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Eagles who fall to 4-6 on the season. KENNETH FARIED had 16 points but just six rebounds. FARIED came into the Tournament as the number two leading rebounder in NCAA Division I at nearly 13 a game.
DAMIAN LILLARD led the Wildcats with 22 points which included a 9-10 shooting performance at the free throw line. NICK HANSEN and LINDSEY HUGHEY each scored 13, and each had three, three-point baskets.
Weber State moves to 7-5 for the season after a 1-4 start. The Wildcats move on for a rematch with Utah State in the championship game of the invitational. USU defeated Morehead State, 79-72, on Monday night and Cal State Fullerton, 83-60, on Tuesday evening. The Aggies beat Weber State, 66-60, in Ogden in the season opener for both teams back on Friday, November 13. Wednesday's game tips off at 8:00 p.m. (MST)
Down 23-3 in the first eight minutes of the first game. and down by 20 again (33-13) with 6:52 left in the half, the Wildcats made their stand beginning with a 15-6 run in those final seven minutes, then out scoring the Eagles 38-25 in the second half, hanging on for a 66-64 victory.
“I told our team at half time to keep their heads up, become more aggressive and to battle back in increments,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “We had a great stretch there of nine or ten minutes where we just imposed our will upon them on the defensive end and didn't let them get a basket. After the game I told them I was really proud of how they stuck together to fight through adversity. A lot of teams would have just shrugged their shoulders and said it wasn't their night, so this game really showed the character of this team and was a great lesson for our younger players and new players.”
The Eagles began the game with a quick 10-0 in the fueled by two three-pointers from STEVE PETERSON. WSU finally got on the board at the 16:44 mark on a three-pointer by NICK HANSEN, but the Eagles responded with an impressive 13-0 scoring run which featured two monstrous dunks by MSU's KENNETH FARIED (6-8, 225) to take a 23-3 lead with 12:02 left in the half.
The scoring run was stopped by a jumper from DARIN MAHONEY and a three-pointer from LINDSEY HUGHEY. The Eagles, however, raced back to another 20-point lead (33-13) on five points from MAZE STALLWORTH with another slam dunk from FARIED sandwiched in-between.
With 6:14 left, the Wildcats regrouped and ran off 12 unanswered points, with five coming from DAMIAN LILLARD, two free throws from KYLE BULLINGER and a three-ball from NICK HANSEN close within eight a 33-25. MAZE STALLWORTH hit two free throws with 1:32 left, then tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer giving the Eagles a 39-28 half time lead. The Eagles hit 13-32 (.406) first half shots and had a lopsided 26-7 rebounding advantage over the Wildcats with 16 of them coming on the offensive glass. STALLWORTH scored 15 of his 21 points in the first 20 minutes and FARIED added 11. LILLARD led the Wildcats with nine points.
The Eagles led 42-30 with 18:14 left in the game on a jumper by DEMONTE HARPER, then went six minutes without scoring while the Wildcats clawed their way back to within two at 42-40 on a free throw by STEVE PANOS. A three-pointer by STALLWORTH and a bucket by TERRANCE HILL put the Eagles back up on top by seven. Morehead would not score another basket until the 1:14 mark when HARPER's jumper gave the Eagles their last lead of the game at 57-56.
The Wildcats took the lead for good when LILLARD sliced down the lane for a nifty lay up with 51 seconds left. DEMONTE HARPER then committed a turnover at the other end and fouled LILLARD who calmly sank both free throws with 33 seconds left putting the 'Cats up 60-57.
After STALLWORTH missed a three-pointer, LINDSEY HUGHEY was fouled and made both shots to make it 62-57 with 22 seconds remaining. The Eagles got a quick basket from DEMONTE HARPER and NICK HANSEN was fouled on the inbounds play. HANSEN made both free throws putting the 'Cats back up by five, but HARPER hit a three-pointer from 27 feet, pulling the Eagles to within two at 64-62 with nine seconds left.
HANSEN was fouled again, and again he made both shots to give WSU a four-point cushion. STALLWORTH missed the three-pointer and KENNETH FARIED made a lay up with one second left before the horn sounded.
Neither team shot particularly well in that second half. Morehead State was just 7-25 (.280) while the Wildcats were only 10-27 (.370), but made 15-20 (.750) second half free throws. MAZE STALLWORTH had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Eagles who fall to 4-6 on the season. KENNETH FARIED had 16 points but just six rebounds. FARIED came into the Tournament as the number two leading rebounder in NCAA Division I at nearly 13 a game.
DAMIAN LILLARD led the Wildcats with 22 points which included a 9-10 shooting performance at the free throw line. NICK HANSEN and LINDSEY HUGHEY each scored 13, and each had three, three-point baskets.
Weber State moves to 7-5 for the season after a 1-4 start. The Wildcats move on for a rematch with Utah State in the championship game of the invitational. USU defeated Morehead State, 79-72, on Monday night and Cal State Fullerton, 83-60, on Tuesday evening. The Aggies beat Weber State, 66-60, in Ogden in the season opener for both teams back on Friday, November 13. Wednesday's game tips off at 8:00 p.m. (MST)
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