USD Loses Composure . . . Game

Two controversial intentional foul calls, an ensuing technical foul and a composed, experienced Eastern Washington team proved too much for the University of San Diego men’s basketball team Tuesday night.

Recipients of these factors on its home court, USD fell, 79-64, in front of 823 disgruntled fans.

“We don’t comment about officials,” USD Coach Hank Egan said.

But during the final 5 1/2 minutes, Egan had plenty of choice words about and to the officials. And after the second intentional foul was called with 1:40 left and USD trailing by five, Egan received a technical for hurling his jacket high into the air before it landed near midcourt.

“That’s a first,” Egan explained. “I just lost it.”

For his part, the intentional foul calls came at rather unusual times and areas of the court.

The first was a holding call on Craig Cottrell with the score, 62-60, and 5:21 left. David Peed, who led the Eagles with 18 points, made the two free throws.

One second later, John Jerome was called for a foul on Damon Andrews, who made one of two from the line. Peed’s 15-foot baseline jumper made it 67-60.

Then, with USD trailing, 69-64, Wayman Strickland was called for an intentional foul from behind near the right sideline, and Egan’s jacket was sent flying. Ronn McMahon made three of four free throws to begin a 10-0 run to end the game.

USD, which fell to 3-6 and plays Nevada Reno at home Thursday, was outscored in the final 5:21, 17-4.

“We got out of sync,” Egan said. “We lost our composure, and they kept theirs. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”

Said McMahon, one of four senior starters, “It seems like we’re usually on the other end of calls like that.”

In the early going, the Toreros looked to be running away taking three 10-point leads. But Eastern Washington, which improved to 3-4 in its sixth road game, pulled within 36-35 at the half.

In the first 8:23 of the second half, Eastern Washington outscored USD, 20-10. “They just wouldn’t go away,” Cottrell said.

Jerome again handled the bulk of the scoring for USD. He was the only Torero in double-figure scoring with 28 points. He also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

USD committed 12 fouls to just six for Eastern Washington in the second half. Eastern Washington made 15 of 19 to just two of four for USD..