Nov 17, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Demetrius Jackson scored 37 points, 28 in the second half, to lead the Tigers to a 85-83 victory over Santa Clara in the season opener for both teams Saturday.
Santa Clara led by as many as 21 points in the first half, but Pacific outscored the Broncos 14-4 at the end of the half to cut the deficit to 42-31 at intermission. Then Jackson, a junior-college transfer, took over. His three-point play at 1:38 got the Tigers to within two at 80-78, and his three-point shot from the right with 47 seconds remaining put Pacific ahead for good, 81-80.
"It is unfortunate how things turned out tonight because every loss will count down the stretch," said Santa Clara Head Coach Dick Davey. "But, we did show the possibility of being pretty decent down the road. You have to give them credit offensively as they were able to score at will in the second half. (Demetrius) Jackson created a lot of offensive chances and capitalized."
Jackson hit two free throws with seven seconds left that provided the margin of victory, as Santa Clara's Kyle Bailey hit a three-pointer with three seconds left. The Broncos had a chance after a Pacific inbound pass went out of bounds off the Tigers' Mike Preston, but Jason Morrissette's three-point attempt was no good.
Preston and Maurice McLemore each scored 10 points to support Jackson's effort.
Bailey led Santa Clara with 26 and and Steve Ross had 23.