USIU Runs By Point Loma Nazarene With Big Assist By Smith

It wasn’t a spectacular play. Just one that has been replayed many times this season. U.S. International guard Steve Smith drives down the court at his usual rabid pace and flips the ball to Kevin Bradshaw, who pops it in from 18 feet.

But what did make this trip down the court special for Smith, playing in his school-record 97th game, was that it resulted in his 128th assist of the season. The play helped Smith break the school record of 127 he set last season as a junior.

And it came in the midst of a 28-6 run early in the first half that virtually finished visiting Point Loma Nazarene for the night. USIU went on to a 116-89 victory, reaching the 100-point mark for the ninth time this season and winning its fourth consecutive game--the longest since 1985-86 when the Gulls won five in a row.

Smith finished with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Another of his trademark workman-like games. While it has not been uncommon to see a multitude of new faces at USIU each year, Smith has remained a constant since graduating from Serra High School.

But this has become a year unlike any other for Smith. He’s on pace to have season bests in nearly every statistical category. He’s already the career assist holder and he still has 10 more games to expand his lead of 152 over second-place Joe Yezbak. Smith’s four steals against Point Loma Nazarene ties him with Charles Redding for second on the Gulls’ all-time Division I list.

“I tried not to worry about this year,” Smith said. “I worried about it too much last year. I’d get frustrated if I’d pass it off and somebody would miss the shot. This year I figured it would just come. Sometimes I look at the assists and get shocked.

“I didn’t expect to be this far ahead at this point.”

But while he may be ahead in his game, the Gulls are still behind in theirs. At least by Smith’s reckoning. This is his final season at USIU and he would gladly trade in all the numbers for a winning season--something that has not happened at USIU since 1980-81.

“I’m tired of losing,” Smith said. “I just want to have a winning season before I leave.”

The victory over PLNC (5-10) improved the Gulls to 8-10 and concluded a nine-game home stand. USIU gets eight days to rest before it plays six of its next seven on the road.

The Crusaders gave the Gulls a good send off. PLNC led 5-2 before USIU went on a 28-6 run and eventually led 50-29 at halftime. Kevin Bradshaw scored 35 points and Demetrius Laffitte added 24 points and 16 rebounds as six USIU players scored in double figures. Ron Hubbard had 27 points to lead PLNC.