March 1, 2008

Final Stats

(San Francisco) - Vince Polakovic scored a career high 23 points to lead San Francisco to a 88-79 win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

San Francisco (8-20, 4-9 West Coast) won its second straight home game and two of three overall. Dior Lowhorn, the leading scorer in the West Coast Conference also scored in 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Dons in the victory. It was the 16th time this season Lowhorn has registered at least 20 points in a contest and the double-double was the team-leading fourth of the season.

It was win no. 802 for veteran coach Eddie Sutton whose record with San Francisco is 4-12 since he replaced Jessie Evans on December 26. Sutton is two wins ahead of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski who became the Sixth Division I coach to reach 800 victories when Duke defeated North Carolina State.

Orlando Johnson had 18 points and six rebounds for Loyola Marymount. (5-24, 2-11) The Lions are in last place in the conference having lost their last six games.

The game was tied at 66-66 when the Dons went on an 8-0 run. Polakovic drained a 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining. Manny Quezada added another from long range and Polakovic made a pair of free throws with 3:39 remaining. Quezada finished with 21 points and five assists.

Lowhorn's fast-break dunk again made it an eight point lead when Orlando Johnson answered with a layup for Loyola Marymount. Johnson made one free throw and the lead was 78-73 with 1:08 to go. It was still a five point lead when Quezada made two foul shots for a seven point lead with 35 seconds remaining. Loyola Marymount missed with consecutive airballs and Polakovic sealed the win with two more from the line.

The Dons would extend their lead to 13 points early in the second half but the Lions would respond with a 10-1 run to make it a four point game.

San Francisco could not pull away and Loyola Marymount still trailed by four with 10 minutes remaining. After a long basket by Tim Diederichs, the lead was only two points for the Dons with 8:39 to play.

Loyola Marymount trailed by three points when San Francisco went on a 6-0 run to take a nine point lead late in the first half and took a 45-36 lead into the locker room at the break.

San Francisco concludes its regular season at home against Pepperdine on Monday night. USF will celebrate the careers of seniors Danny Cavic and Vince Polakovic in a pregame ceremony prior to the 7:00 PM tip.