San Diego Wins Respect, Loses to Auburn, 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 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 just lost to Auburn, 62-61, in the first round of the Midwest Regional Thursday night but gained the respect of Indiana fans.

There were two disappointing moments for USD in the last six seconds. With the Toreros trailing, 62-60, Danny 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 last chance when Mark Manor rebounded a missed free throw by Auburn’s Frank 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 dribble.

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.

But the Toreros seemed to have no regrets. 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.”

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.

Auburn made two crucial steals after the going to a 1-3-1 trapping zone defense late in the game. Guards Gerald White and Ford, scoreless in the first half, put the Tigers ahead with back-to-back layups, and USD never quite recovered.

For the much of the game, USD controlled the tempo, played its trademark defense and made a believer of Auburn Coach Sonny 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.”

Mike Jones scored 24 points for Auburn and had 7 rebounds. Center Jeff Moore had 14 rebounds and Chris Morris added 11 as the Tiger owned the boards, 42-30.

Means had 18 points for San Diego, Thompson added 14 and Manor scored 11.

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.