Dec. 16, 2002

Box Score

San Luis Obispo, CA (Dec. 16, 2002) - Cal Poly's Varnie Dennis hit a pair of free throws with one second remaining in overtime to lift the Mustangs over Loyola Marymount University, who erased a 14-point second half deficit, 72-70 in San Luis Obispo on Monday night.

The Mustang's Dennis grabbed an offensive rebound in the paint and was fouled by sophomore Andy Osborn with 1.5 seconds remaining to set-up the game winning free throws. Freshman Brandon Worthy had one last shot as his 15-footer hit the front of the rim. The Mustangs go to 2-4 on the season and the Lions fall to 5-4.

Rebounds once again hurt the Lions as Cal Poly held a 50-43 edge on the boards, including 19 offensive.

LMU started the overtime frame with a pair of free throws by Worthy to give LMU just its second lead of the game at 66-64. Diaby Kamara, playing in his first game in two years, tied the game at 66-66 with 3:24 remaining.

Sophomore guard Charles Brown scored with a jumper to give LMU the 68-66 lead. Kamara answered right back with 1:58 remaining to tie it again at 68-68. Kamara finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds, fouling out with a minute to play in overtime.

Jason Allen would hit an 18-footer to give Cal Poly the 70-68 lead with 36 seconds remaining. Sophomore Sherman Gay, who missed a lay-in with four seconds remaining to end it in regulation, would tie it on a put-back with 15 remaining to set-up the ending.

Gay finished with 13 points and six rebounds and junior Kent Dennis added 11, all in the first half for the Lions. For the Mustangs, Shane Schilling, who was also playing in his first game in two years, led all scorers with 16, including 11 in the first half. There were four Mustangs in double digits, including Allen with 12 and Dennis with 11.

The Lions held Cal Poly with out a three-pointer, holding them to 0-for-16. It was the first time they went without a three-pointer in over a decade. Both teams struggled at the free throw line, as the Lions finished 14-of-24 (58 percent) and the Mustangs were 10-for-19 (53 percent).

Cal Poly streaked out with a 13-2 run to start the game and a 10-4 run to start the second half to keep the Lions behind for all but once in regulation. Both teams were forced into 20 turnovers.

The Mustangs stretched the lead to 14 with 8:58 remaining on a field goal by Eric Jackson. LMU would begin their rally and cut the lead to 58-49 on five straight points by sophomore Charles Brown with 8:08 left in the game. Worthy would cap a 13-1 run when he hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 59-57 with 4:32 remaining.

LMU would finally tie the game with 48 seconds remaining when Worthy, who finished with a team-high 14 points, hit one of two free throws. Neither team could capitalize in the final seconds to send it to overtime.

The Lions struggled from the start, hitting their first field goal of the game nearly six minutes into the first half as Cal Poly jumped out to a 13-2 lead. Schilling scored nine of the Mustangs first 11 points.

However, LMU climbed back into the game thanks in part to their half-court press and the freshman backcourt of Wes Wardrop and Worthy. The Lions forced Cal Poly into 13 first half turnovers with Wardrop getting four steals and Worthy two. Wardrop finished with a career-high six steals, the most in LMU history by a freshman.

LMU would take their first lead of the game at 31-29 with 3:14 remaining in the first frame when Dennis hit a three-pointer. Cal Poly closed the half with a 9-4 run to take a 38-35 lead into intermission.

The Lions will travel to Cal State Northridge on Dec. 19 at 7:05 p.m. The game will be on KXLU 88.9 FM.

- GO LIONS -