MONMOUTH, Ore..– San Francisco State Gators snapped Western Oregon's 16-game winning streak this evening with a 99-93 triple overtime victory in the First Round of the WOU/Doubletree by Hilton D2 Shootout. The Gators held the defending NCAA Division II West Region Champion to just 35% shooting from the field including 27% from three-point land.
AJ Kahlon paced the Gator with a career high 28 points and 23 rebounds. The senior post player was nine-for-12 from the field and went 10-for-12 from the charity stripe in 50 minutes of time on the court.
Warren Jackson added 23 points while
Derrick Brown had 14 points for the Gators (3-0).
The Gators built a 58-42 lead mid-way through the second half, but the Wolves went on a 21-5 run to tie the game at 63-63 and send the game into overtime. In the first overtime, the Gators built a 73-66 lead in the first three minutes of the extra period. Western Oregon (2-1) finished the overtime on a 12-5 run to send the game into the second overtime.
Western Oregon took an 84-80 early lead in the second overtime, when the Gators came back and tied the game at 84-84 on free throws by
Israel Hakim. The Gators took a 90-89 lead on a lay-up by Kahlon with just three seconds left. Western Oregon's Ali Faruq-Beay was fouled on the Wolves' next possession but just made one of two free throws to send the game into the third overtime.
Kahlon in the third overtime as he scored the first four points to give the Gators a 94-90 lead. A three by the Wolves' Demetrius Trammell cut the deficit to 94-93. The Gators then scored the final five points of the game including three by Kahlon to give the visitors the 99-93 non-conference road win.
The Gators will return to the court tomorrow evening at 5pm when they face Concordia-Portland in the Second Round of the WOU/Doubletree by Hilton D2 Shootout. Concordia lost to UC San Diego 66-57 earlier this evening.
GAME NOTES
GATORS: San Francisco State improved to 3-0 with its 99-93 triple overtime affair. This is the second year in a row that the Gators have started off 3-0.
20/20: AJ Kahlon had a career high 28 points and 23 rebounds in the Gators' victory this evening. He went 9-for-12 from the field and 10-for-12 from the line. Of his 23 rebounds, 20 were defensive rebounds.
ALSO IN DOUBLE DIGITS: Warren Jackson scored 23 points off the bench for the Gators. He also had six assists and four steals.
Derrick Brown added 14 points for the victors, going four-for-six from the field and a perfect four-for-four from three-point land.
18-2: The Gators are 18-2 the past two seasons when they have scored over 70 points in a game. Last season, they went 15-2 and already are 3-0.
DEFENSE: San Francisco State held the Wolves to just 35% shooting from the field and just 26% from three-point land. The Gators forced 21 turnovers and recorded 12 steals. Jackson had four steals while
Coley Apsay added three and
Chiefy Ugbaja recorded two.
50 MINUTES: AJ Kahlon played in 50 minutes this evening while
Warren Jackson saw action in 45 and
Derrick Brown had 30 minutes on the court tonight.
51-28: The Gators bench outscored the Wolves' bench 51-28 led by
Warren Jackson's 23 points.
Derrick Brown had 18 points and
Chiefy Ugbaja scored 8 while
Israel Hakim chipped in 6 points.
COACHES' QUOTES: "It was a great college basketball game this evening played by both teams,' said San Francisco State head coach
Paul Trevor. "I am proud of how our guys competed as we fought all night," noted Trevor. "
AJ Kahlon played amazing as did
Warren Jackson. We grew up a lot this evening as a team."
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
