Auburn Wins, but USD Gains Respect, 62-61

As the University of San Diego basketball team left the floor, a crowd of 29,610 in the Hoosier Dome rose to give the Toreros a standing ovation.

And it wasn’t because the fans, most of whom were attired in the red and white of Indiana University, were anticipating an easy game for the Hoosiers Saturday against some lightweight from Southern California.

On the contrary.

USD had lost to Auburn, 62-61, in the first round of the Midwest Regionals Thursday night but had gained the respect of Indiana fans, along with that of Auburn’s outspoken coach, Sonny Smith.

More important, the Toreros had played up to their expectations. They came here determined to prove that they belonged in the NCAA tournament, and they succeeded.

“The gap between us and the powerhouse schools is narrowing,” senior center Scott Thompson said. “We can play with anybody now. We have some talented players, and I think we will get some recognition now.

“We’ve come a long way in my four years. I’ve got no complaints. I’m happy. This game could have gone either way.”

It went Auburn’s way at the start, when the Tigers bolted to a 9-0 lead, and also at the end, after a couple of turnovers helped the Tigers erase a USD lead with five minutes left.

For the much of the game, USD controlled the tempo, played its trademark defense and made a believer of Auburn’s Smith.

“We’re not much better than what you saw tonight,” Smith said. “We normally shoot better than that, but our defense isn’t much better.”

Guard Danny Means was USD’s leading scorer with 18 points, and Thompson had 14 and forward Mark Manor 11.

“They have an outstanding defensive club,” Smith said. “When I read that they led the nation in defense and after watching films, I wondered how they could play defense and not foul. I found out tonight.

“They could play in the Southeastern Conference and not finish in the bottom four. They have great patience, and I’d like to borrow some of that.”

What the Toreros lacked was Auburn’s superior ability, which was reflected in a couple of crucial steals after the Tigers went to a 1-3-1 trapping zone defense late in the game.

Guards Gerald White and Frank Ford, who had been scoreless in the first half, put the Tigers ahead with back-to-back layups, and USD never quite recovered.

“We went to a half-court trap,” Ford said. “That was gut-check time for us. The steals turned the game around.”

There were two disappointing moments for USD in the last six seconds. With the Toreros trailing, 62-60, Means had a chance to force an overtime, but he made only one of two free throws after making a steal and being fouled.

USD had one more opportunity when Manor rebounded a missed free throw by Ford with five seconds left. Manor gave the ball to guard Paul Leonard, who went nearly the length of the floor before being called for double dribbling.

USD Coach Hank Egan didn’t like the call, but conceded that he wasn’t an objective observer.

“Just once in my life I hope to get a call like that at the end of a game,” Egan said.

Auburn’s White seemed relieved by the call.

“I was backpedaling as Leonard drove at me,” White said. “He tried a crossover dribble and got hung up as he tried to change hands. Thank God the official saw it and called it the way he did.”

Auburn had a 42-30 rebounding advantage, which Smith said was important to the outcome.

Forward Mike Jones was Auburn’s leading scorer with 24 points; he also had seven rebounds. Center Jeff Moore was the leading rebounder with 14, and Chris Morris had 11.

The Tigers, who made only 1 of 9 three-point attempts, spread their defense and cut into USD’s long-range effectiveness after the Toreros made 4 of 9 three-point shots in the first half.

USD needed all of them after trailing, 9-0.

“We anticipated that a little bit,” Thompson said. “I think we were a little antsy.”

Thompson, after drawing two quick fouls, watched most of the first half from the bench as Means scored 11 points and Manor 9 to put USD ahead at halftime, 33-28.

“The start was not what we had hoped for, but we weathered it pretty good,” Egan said.

“We hadn’t been in an NCAA tournament in a long time (since 1984), and we felt if we got the emotional stuff out of the way we could play in this game.”

The Toreros proved that they belonged in the NCAA tournament, but they still have a way to go in gaining national recognition.

Egan, in a postgame press conference, corrected an article in an Indianapolis newspaper that had listed the USD coach as Smokey Gaines, the former coach of San Diego State.

“I don’t want to be too picky, but I’m pretty proud of this basketball team,” he said. “Please list me as the coach.”

A lot of people in the basketball-crazy state of Indiana now have a pretty good idea as to the identity of USD and its coach.