Feb. 24, 2005

Final Stats

SAN FRANCISCO. (AP) Paul Marigney scored 22 points as the Saint Mary's Gaels defeated the San Francisco Dons 81-77 in a thrilling triple overtime game on Thursday night.

USF will close its regular season at home Saturday night vs. Santa Clara.

Daniel Kickert and Frederic Adjiwan scored 15 points each and Adjiwan added 15 rebounds for the Gaels who have won three consecutive games.

Saint Mary's (28-7, 10-3 West Coast Conference) clinched the second seed in the upcoming WCC tournament with the win.

San Francisco (14-12, 5-8) was paced by John Cox who led the Dons with 29 points.

Both teams traded baskets and Johnny Dukes fouled out with 3:21 remaining in triple overtime. Two players from each team had fouled out of the game.

Adjiwan made both free throws giving Saint Mary's a 73-71 lead. Cox made a bank shot to tie the game.

Brett Collins made a 3-pointer giving the Gaels a three point edge. It was Collin's first points since the first half. E.J. Rowland made two free throws to put Saint Mary's ahead by five but Cox made a clutch 3-pointer to make the score 78-76 in favor of Saint Mary's with 1:05 remaining in triple overtime.

Rowland with a floating layup with just over thirty seconds remaining sealed the win for the Gaels.

Johnny Dukes nailed a 3-pointer at the start of double overtime. Marigney kept Saint Mary's in the game with a pair of free throws. Jason Walberg fouled out with 3:30 remaining and Cox made two foul shots to give San Francisco a 67-64 lead.

It became a battle of free throws as Jonathan Sanders made both at the line for a one point game. Sanders also stole the ball but missed a fast break layup.

Andre Hazel made a fadeaway jumper but a basket by Rowland for Saint Mary's again made it a one point lead for San Francisco. Jerome Gumbs was fouled but missed both free throws with 1:19 remaining in double overtime.

The Gaels passed the ball around the perimeter as Kickert attempted a 3-pointer that missed and San Francisco won the possession.

Cox took time off the clock and drove to the basket with six seconds left on the shot clock but was fouled by Marigney who fouled out of the game. Cox missed both free throws and it was still a one point game with under 20 seconds to go.

A loose ball on the floor was awarded to Saint Mary's and on the inbounds, Gumbs fouled out of the game putting Sanders at the line with 4.1 seconds remaining. Sanders made only one free throw. San Francisco got the rebound and forced triple overtime.

In the first overtime, Cox scored on a running jumper in the lane. Marigney retied the game with a mid range jumper.

Dukes made two free throws giving San Francisco a two point edge.

Marigney nailed a 3-pointer to put the Gaels up by one and Gumbs with a finger roll layup once again were up by a point.

Marigney made one free throw and missed the second but Sanders got the rebound and the basket for a 62-60 St. Mary's lead.

Cox again tied the game with a 10 foot jump shot with one minute remaining in overtime.

Kickert attempted a close range jump shot but missed. Jason Walberg got the rebound but he missed and both teams fought for the ball with San Francisco winning the possession.

However, the Dons turned it over in their end giving Saint Mary's one more chance at the win with 6.6 seconds remaining. Hazel stole the ball and was apparently fouled but the referees did not call the foul as Hazel tried a layup that was too strong and off the backboard resulting in double overtime.

Adjiwan scored a layup while he was double teamed giving Saint Mary's a 49-48 lead with 3:33 to go in regulation.

Cox made both from the line following a timeout and led by one point with three minutes to play. Cox made one more free throw and scored San Francisco's last seven points.

Marigney tied the game with a layup but San Francisco got a tip in from Jerome Gumbs and a breakaway layup from Andre Hazel to lead 54-50 with a minute and a half remaining.

With just over a minute to go, Kickert made it a two point game with a turnaround hook shot over two defenders.

Sanders was fouled by Tyrone Riley and made one free throw. San Francisco then took a 30 second time out in an attempt to distract Sanders. The strategy failed as Sanders tied the game at 54-54 with 21 seconds remaining.

Cox had the ball for the final attempt in regulation and after driving a few steps into the lane, passed it out to Riley who shot an airball as time expired to force overtime.

San Francisco was ahead for most of the first half. Neither team shot well as San Francisco was 40 percent from the field while Saint Mary's was just 9-of-26. St. Mary's was 4-of-10 from 3-point range. With a 28-23 lead, St Mary's scored the final five points as both teams were tied 28-28 at halftime.