Idaho (17-15) At Pacific (20-12)
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GAME NOTES: The Spanos Center will been jumping this evening, as the Pacific Tigers host the Idaho Vandals in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Vandals opened the tournament with a thrilling, 69-67 victory over Drake. It was the seventh win in the last nine contests for Idaho, which is 17-15 overall on the year. However, the team has been terrible on the road this season, posting a meager 4-11 mark as the visitor. As for the Tigers, they were able to slip past Portland with an 82-76 victory in the first round of action. It was the sixth win in the last seven matchups for Pacific, which is a respectable 20-12 on the year. The Tigers have dominated Idaho in the all-time series, winning 15 of the 18 meetings, including all seven contests played at Pacific. The winner of this game will take on either Bradley or Oakland in semifinal action next week.
The Vandals were victorious in the first round of play thanks to their defensive performance. Idaho held the Bulldogs of Drake to just 35.6 percent shooting from the floor, which included a terrible 10-of-34 clip from behind the arc. Idaho has put forth a stingy defensive effort throughout the season and is limiting the opposition to just 65.6 ppg. At the other end of the floor the Vandals are paced by Mac Hopson, who is averaging 16.4 ppg, and has also dished out a team-high 191 assists. Kashif Watson is the only other player netting double-figures on the year, as the guard is chipping in 10.4 ppg. In the victory over Drake, Idaho shot 49.0 percent from the floor and was paced by Trevor Morris' 16 points. Brandon Wiley and Watson contributed 13 points apiece, while Wiley also pulled down eight boards and Watson dished out seven assists. Luciano de Souza registered 11 points off the bench, while Hopson chipped in 10 points, to go along with a team-high nine assists.
The Tigers exploded in their first round win over Portland, as Pacific shot a sizzling 63.6 ppg, while also connecting on 22-of-34 attempts from the foul line. Sam Willard led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Chad Troyer contributed 18 points in the win. Bryan LeDuc tallied 13 points and six boards off the bench, while Michael Kirby chipped in 12 points and five assists. It was a surprising showing by Pacific, which is averaging just 66.8 ppg on the year. despite shooting a healthy 46.6 percent from the floor. LeDuc has been the main source of production on the year, but is only posting 11.6 ppg, to go along with 4.6 rpg. Troyer is the only other player netting double- figures, as the guard is chipping in 11.1 ppg.
The Tigers have won all seven battles against Idaho in Pacific, and that trend should continue this evening. The Tigers are tough defensively, and will limit Idaho's attack.
Predicted OutcomePacific 67, Idaho 63Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
