USIU Outplayed by UC San Diego : Division I Gulls Drop Their Opener to Division III Tritons

This was not the way it was supposed to begin for United States International University’s basketball team.

The Gulls, after all, opened the 1986-87 season Tuesday night in a new arena, downtown’s Golden Hall, and with high expectations.

But after UC San Diego, an NCAA Division III team, outplayed the Division I Gulls for a 106-95 victory in front of 248, USIU Coach Gary Zarecky was more than a little dejected.

“A bubble has just burst--a very big bubble,” Zarecky said. “The travesty of this whole thing is that it was opening night at Golden Hall, the hype, the expectations.”

UCSD (2-2) controlled the game, building a 16-point halftime lead that the Gulls (0-1) could not overcome.

Zarecky said before the season that USIU, which led the nation in scoring last season, would be taking advantage of the three-point line.

But it wasn’t to be Tuesday night as the Gulls were 1 of 11 from three-point range in the first half and 5 of 26 for the game. UCSD, which was 2 of 3 from the three-point line, didn’t need any long-range shots as they led by a big margin most of the game.

Joe Yezbak, the No. 3 scorer in the nation last season, gave USIU its last lead, 23-21, with 11:42 remaining in the first half. After Yezbak’s basket, the Gulls suffered through scoring droughts of 4:29 and 4 minutes as UCSD pulled away.

After the first stretch, the Gulls went from a two-point lead to a eight-point deficit.

The Tritons were led by 18 first-half points by guard John Saintignon. Forward Brian Backens, 16 points, and guard Greg Kamansky, 11 points, also scored in double figures by halftime.

The Gulls closed to within five in the second half when Charles Redding scored on a layup to cut the Tritons’ lead to 75-70 with 8:45 left. But UCSD regrouped and played steady down the stretch to pull away.

The Tritons outrebounded the Gulls, 50-40, but held a 23-13 advantage in the first half.

Backens led all scorers with 30 points. Kamansky scored 28 and Saintignon added 24 for UCSD. Guard Mark Morris led USIU with 22 points and Russ Heicke added 20 and 8 rebounds.

USIU shot 40% from the field, UCSD 52.8%.

“It was just a very ugly basketball game,” Zarecky said. “I really am baffled. I’m going back to the drawing board. It’s a rough career.”

So much for opening night.