PCAA Basketball Tournament--Semifinal : Berry Scores 26 to Lead San Jose State to a 70-69 Win

Ricky Berry scored 26 points, and his teammates hit just enough free throws in the last two minutes to give San Jose State a 70-69 victory over UC Santa Barbara in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. tournament semifinal game at the Forum Friday night.

The Spartans will play Nevada Las Vegas in the championship game today at 2 p.m.

Berry scored 19 points in the second half, and his 10-foot jump shot gave the Spartans a 65-64 lead.

Santa Barbara tied the game on a free throw by Carrick DeHart, but George Puou’s two free throws with 1:58 remaining gave San Jose the lead for good.

Dietrich Waters added one free throw and Bobby Evans added two more in the last minute.

Santa Barbara had a chance to win, but Brian Shaw missed a last-second shot.

The Gauchos, who led the league in rebounding, were out-rebounded, 18-7, in the first half, but their 59% shooting from the field kept them in the game.

With Brian Vaughns operating inside for five baskets--including his 46th and 47th dunks of the season, Santa Barbara built a 28-21 lead with 6:48 left in the first half.

But the Gauchos then hit a four-minute scoreless drought while San Jose State ran off nine straight points to take the lead.

Berry started the surge with a three-pointer. Guard Rodney Scott followed with two jump shots and Reggie Owens’ basket made it 30-28.

DeHart’s 15-footer and a driving layup by Vaughns put Santa Barbara ahead, but Puou’s two free throws and Owens’ lay-in gave San Jose a 34-32 halftime lead.

Brian Shaw’s three-pointer opened the second half and gave Santa Barbara a 35-34 lead, but the Gauchos weren’t in front again until Khris Fortson’s three-point play with 5:09 left made it 61-60.