San Diego pulls the upset, 70-69

TAMPA, Fla. -- San Diego’s Rob Jones didn’t even bother leaving his feet when the ball was tossed up to start the game.

The 6-foot-6 forward knew he didn’t have a chance against Connecticut’s 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet.

When the same thing happened to begin overtime, Jones jumped so high he nearly got the tip -- a clear indication of how confident the Toreros had become. They were even more fearless in the final seconds.

De’Jon Jackson made the biggest shot in team history -- a long jumper with 1.2 seconds left in overtime -- and 13th-seeded San Diego beat fourth-seeded Connecticut, 70-69, on Friday in the first round of the NCAA’s West Regional.

“The thing I put on the board: Don’t let them get a sniff that we’re two equal teams,” Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun said. “We allowed them to believe that it wasn’t going to be what everybody said it was going to be.”

Instead, Connecticut is heading home much earlier than expected. The Huskies (24-9) hadn’t lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament since 1979 and never during Calhoun’s 22 seasons.

San Diego, meanwhile, got its first tournament victory in four tries. The Toreros (22-13) advanced to play No. 12 Western Kentucky in the second round.

And if Gyno Pomare (22 points) and Brandon Johnson (18 points) play like they did Friday, the small school known mostly for its scenic ocean views could be in for an extended tournament stay.