San Diego Sports Et cetera : USIU Gets Rare Win on Road, 78-75

The United States International University men’s basketball team broke a six-season winless streak on the road Wednesday night, defeating Central Florida, 78-75, at Orlando.

“It’s a big triumph for us,” USIU Coach Gary Zarecky said. “I’m just ecstatic. To win on the road is tough.”

The victory was the first USIU on the road as a Division I basketball team since the 1980-81 season.

USIU (1-2), which led most of the second half, had to hold off a late Central Florida rally. Central Florida closed to 77-75 with 13 seconds remaining. Charles Redding hit the first of two free-throw attempts, and a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer by Central Florida’s Van Haithlock wasn’t close.

“We set two goals this season,” Zarecky said. “One, to win more games than last season (11) and two, to win on the road. So we’ve accomplished one of them.”

Kelly Wesley, who started for the first time this season, led USIU with 16 points. Russ Heicke had 13 and Rade Milutinovic added 10. Fred Crawford led Central Florida (0-2) with 19 points.

Cord Clemons and Graham Taylor scored 20 points each as the University of Victoria defeated Athletes in Action, 96-94, at Victoria, British Columbia.

Zack Jones led AIA (14-8) with 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the field. Tim Dillon added 14 points for AIA.

AIA led by 11 points at the half but lost its lead for good with 10:16 remaining. AIA’s Lorenzo Romar scored four points in the last eight seconds to make it close.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Shannon Anderson scored 25 points to lead Point Loma Nazarene to an 82-61 women’s college basketball victory over Occidental College at Point Loma Nazarene.

Ann Duffy added 14 points and Laura Mars had 11 for PLNC (2-0). Point Loma outrebounded Occidental, 52-30. Anderson led Point Loma with eight rebounds. Occidental (1-2) shot 35% from the field.

MEN’S TENNIS

Top-seeded Scott Patridge of the University of San Diego advanced to the quarterfinals of the San Diego All-College Men’s tennis tournament with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kelly Mountain of San Diego State in third-round singles play at USD.

Third-seeded David Stewart and fourth-seeded Dan Mattera, both of USD, also advanced.

Stewart defeated Hunter Galloway of UC San Diego, 6-1, 6-4, and Mattera beat Chris Henderson of Grossmont, 6-1, 6-3.

Quarterfinal singles matches begin today at 1 p.m at USD with second-round doubles to follow.