HoopsHD continues its series leading up to Selection Sunday and March Madness, as we simulate what would have happened in TTTW (The Tournament That Wasn’t). Up next is the Big West Tournament. UC-Irvine dominated the season in this conference, winning the regular season title by 3 games. However, their conference tournament run would start with a matchup against Long Beach State — the Anteaters’ top rival in the conference. Would UCI be able to make it back to the Big Dance for the second year in a row, or would they get upset along the way and watch a lower seed steal the bid? It is time to find out!
BIG WEST QUARTERFINALS
The Big West quarterfinals began with the 2/7 matchup between Cal State-Northridge and Cal State-Fullerton, and saw Northridge’s Lamine Diane scored 19 points and pull down 12 rebounds as his team overcame a 2-point halftime deficit to win 75-66. Up next, UC-Riverside was trying to extend its best season at the D1 level and held a 37-36 lead over UC-Santa Barbara at the half. However, the Gauchos proved to be too much and won it going away, 74-58.
In the evening doubleheader, top-seed UC-Irvine was able to take care of rival Long Beach State 76-64 despite 17 points from the Beach’s Chance Hunter. Finally, UC-Davis built what appeared to be a commanding 42-25 first half lead over the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. The Bows came storming back in the second half, had the score tied 9 minutes in, and then pulled away late to end the Aggies’ season, 78-69.
BIG WEST SEMIFINALS
Hawai’i again found themselves down at the half in their semifinal matchup with top-seed UC-Irvine, this time by a score of 39-34. Unlike their quarterfinal game, however, there was no magical second half run in store. The Anteaters dominated the second half of the game and won easily, 90-67. Tommy Rutherford’s 18 points led the way for Irvine.
In the second semifinal, UCSB and Cal State-Northridge played the most entertaining game of the Big West tournament so far. Northridge held a narrow 4-point lead at the halftime break and it looked like the Matadors were ready to pull away when they opened it up to 13 points seven minutes into the second half. The Gauchos fought back hard, however, closing the lead down to 3 with under 30 seconds left. Northridge was able to make their free throws, however, and when the horn sounded they had escaped with an 80-76 win and a spot in the title game.
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
The Big West championship game, despite being one of the last games of the night on a very busy Saturday of college hoops, was certainly worth staying up for. UC-Irvine had easily won the regular season title, but Northridge gave the Anteaters all they could ask for and more, taking a 7-point lead into the half and building that lead to 11 early in the second. UCI was not to be denied, however, as the ‘Eaters came storming back to tie the game at the halfway point of the second and eventually built a 5-point lead late. The Matadors had one final push, with a couple of 3-point plays late pulling them within one. However, Irvine made their free throws when needed and was able to hold on and punch their dance ticket, by a final score of 88-85.
