SAN FRANCISCO-- The SF State defeated the visiting Sonoma State Seawolves 80-76 in triple overtime to improve to 15-9 overall and 9-9 in the CCAA on their Senior Night. With the win, the Gators punched their ticket to the CCAA Basketball Championship which begins on March 1.
The Gators had five players score in double digits led by sophomore transfer
Warren Jackson with 16 points. Besides Jackson's 16 points,
Andre Jones added 12 points and
Floyd Wormley,
Jon McMurry and
Treaven Duffy each chipped in 10 points for the victors. With the win, SF State is in sole possession of the sixth spot for the 2015-16 CCAA Basketball Championships heading into the final week of the regular season. They two games out of the fourth spot which is currently held by Cal State Monterey Bay and Humboldt State.
SF State jumped out to a 25-14 mid-way through the first half and increased its lead to 31-19 (the Gators largest lead of the game) on a lay-up by
Nick Calcaterra with 4:44 left in the half. The Gators held on to a double digit lead until David Ahern's lay-up at the end of the half that cut the hosts' lead to 35-26 heading into the half.
The Seawolves opened up the second half on a 10-5 run to cut the deficit to 40-36 in the first five minutes of the new stanza. SF State came right back and increased its lead to 44-36 on a
Treaven Duffy lay-up at the 13:52 mark.
Sonoma State once again went on a run, this time a 9-0 run, capped by a Luke Cochran lay-up which cut the Gator lead to 44-42. The Gators came right back and increased their lead to 51-43 with just 5:14 left in regulation. The visitors ended the half on a 12-4 run to send the game into overtime capped by a James Davis three.
In the first overtime, the Gators opened up on a 4-0 run but the Seawolves came right back and tied the game at 59-59 with just 2:30 to go in the first overtime. Jones connected on two free throws to give SF State a 61-59 lead, but Ahern came right back with two free throws of his own to tie the game with just 15 seconds on the clock. SF State had a chance to win it in the first overtime, but its attempted was blocked by the Seawolf defense.
In the second overtime, Ahern hit a three to give the visitors a 64-61 lead. SF State retook the lead on a tip-in (65-64) with a little under two minutes left but Davis hit a three to give Sonoma State a 67-65 lead. The Seawolves increased their lead to 68-65, but
Floyd Wormley hit a three off an assist from Jackson to send the game into the third overtime.
The Gators came out in the third overtime on a 5-0 run capped by two made free throws by Duffy to give the hosts a 74-69 lead. Sonoma State (13-11, 8-10 CCAA would not go away as the Seawolves cut the Gator lead to 74-73 on a lay-up Ahern.
SF State went four for four from the line in the next 10 seconds to increase its lead to 78-73, but James Slade hit three with six seconds left to cut the Gator lead to 78-76. Duffy sealed the win for SF State with two made free throws to give the Gators a 80-76 win and improve their record to 15-2 when scoring over 70 points.
The Gators will finish their regular season with two road games at nationally ranked UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino next Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27.
Post-Game VideoBox Score -----
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 Fa
