TAMPA, FLORIDA -- San Diego's Brandon Johnson, a 6-foot, play-making point guard, and Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, a 7-foot-3, shot-blocking center, shook hands at midcourt during pre-game introductions.
It was the only time the Toreros looked overmatched Friday.
De'Jon Jackson's pull-up jumper just inside the 3-point line with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime gave 13th-seeded San Diego a 70-69 victory over No. 4 seed Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament's West Regional.
It was the Toreros' first tournament victory in four tries and the second upset in as many games in Tampa.
San Diego (22-13) took advantage of strong inside play from Gyno Pomare, four 3-pointers from Johnson and Jackson's clutch shot to advance to the second round. The Toreros will play No. 12 Western Kentucky, which used a desperation 3-pointer to upend fifth-seeded Drake.
If Pomare (22 points on 10-of-12 shooting) and Johnson (18 points, five rebounds and four assists) play like they did against the Huskies, the small school known mostly for its scenic ocean views could be in for an extended stay in the tournament.
Jeff Adrien had 18 points and 12 rebounds for UConn, which heads home much earlier than expected and ends an inconsistent season with another up-and-down performance.
The Huskies (24-9) had an excuse in this one. They played most of the game without leading scoring A.J. Price, who injured his left knee in the first half and did not return.
The junior point guard landed awkwardly on his knee while driving to the basket with 9:39 to play in the first half. He was carried off the floor, examined on the bench and then helped to the locker room for more tests.
He briefly returned to the bench on crutches, but wasn't around for the start of the second half.
The game was tied at 16 when Price fell. Without him, San Diego pulled out to an 11-point lead early in the second half and UConn was left without its top playmaker in overtime.
The Huskies turned to Jerome Dyson down the stretch and in the extra frame.
Dyson sank two free throws with 10.4 seconds to play in regulation, tying the game at 60 and sending it to overtime. He finished with 14 points.
Thabeet added 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks for the Huskies.
San Diego was up 64-60 after Pomare's jumper, but he fouled out a few seconds later.
Without him in the paint, UConn got two easy baskets inside and then Dyson made two more free throws to put the Huskies ahead 69-68 with 9 seconds remaining. Johnson fouled out on the play, leaving the Toreros without their top two players.
Jackson picked up the slack. He drove right on Dyson, stopped a step inside the arc, then sank the biggest shot of his career.
The celebration had to wait, though.
UConn had one final chance, but Jackson intercepted the inbound pass. The Toreros rushed the court, mobbed their hero and then celebrated in front of a small group of fans who traveled cross-country to see them make history.
Some thought San Diego might get pushed around in this one, especially since Pomare was giving up 7 inches to Thabeet.
But there was just one embarrassing moment for the Toreros. It wasn't when Johnson walked away from the pregame handshake laughing, and it wasn't when Thabeet swatted two of Johnson's shots into the front row.
It came when San Diego's dance team ran to center court during a timeout early in the first half. The 12-girl squad lined up to perform and had to wait more than a minute for the music to start.
When it finally began, it wasn't the right track, so the dancers sheepishly stood up and started chanting, "Go San Diego."
The players certainly answered the call.
Thursday
October 24th, 2024
4:29AM
