Gamble on New Starters Pays Off for USD, 61-56

Since University of San Diego Coach Hank Egan claims he is nervous about the unknown, he must have been really nervous before Friday’s game against Montana.

Egan started three freshmen, center Keith Colvin making his third collegiate start and forward John Sayers and guard Randy Thompson making their first.

“They earned it this week in practice,” Egan said. “You give the people who have been with you the longest the first shot, but then it’s up for grabs. It was a gamble.”

The gamble paid off as USD defeated previously undefeated Montana, 61-56, in front of 1,233 fans at the Sports Center for its first win of the season after two defeats.

And the heroes were . . .

Colvin, 18, had a team-high 15 points and 7 rebounds and put the Toreros ahead to stay when he hit two free throws with 2:16 remaining to break a 52-52 tie.

“At the start of the season, I thought I’d be down on the bench like one of the regular freshmen waiting my turn to play,” said Colvin, from Chico High.

Thompson, 18, had scored just two points in 21 minutes coming into Friday’s game. He had six points, including two free throws that gave USD a 56-52 lead with 32 seconds to play. Thompson stole a pass by Tony Reed and was fouled while driving to the basket.

Sayers, 19, scored all eight of his points when he hit four of six shots from the field in the first half. USD led 31-23 at the intermission.

Instead of playing nervously at the start, the USD freshmen came out playing just the way they have been practicing this week. On fire.

The trio scored eight of the Toreros’ first 12 points. They shot 9 of 12 from the field in the first half, combined for 20 points and 6 rebounds and USD outscored Montana 24-12 when they were on the floor.

“When you’re so pumped up, you go, go, go,” said junior guard Mike Haupt, who had six points and a game-high nine rebounds.

USD guard Danny Means scored 12 points, including two three-point shots in the second half. Forward Marty Munn, the leading scorer coming into the game, did not start and scored just six points.

In USD’s two previous losses, it fell behind by 8 and 14 points at halftime and almost came back. On Friday, USD led by eight at the half, but allowed Montana to get back into the game.

Montana (3-1) came back behind the scoring of forward Wayne Tinkle (22 points), Reed (15 points) and K.C. McGowan (10 points), but the Grizzlies never led in the game.

After Montana tied the score at 52 with 3:42 to play, USD scored all its points from the foul line, making 9 of 13 attempts for the win.

“This was a big game,” Egan said. “There is a good possibility you’ll see this starting lineup again next game.”