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Toros outlast Seawolves in Disney finale

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Toros outlast Seawolves in Disney finale

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Junior guard Travis Thompson led an Alaska Anchorage comeback effort with a career-high 32 points but Cal State Dominguez rallied for the game's final nine points and a 88-81 victory over the Seawolves in the finale of the CCA Division II Tip-Off Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center on Sunday night.

The Seawolves (2-1) also got a personal-best 24 points from sophomore point guard Brian McGill, who added team-highs of six rebounds and four assists.

The Toros (2-1) put five players in double figures, led by 16 points from guard Pierson Williams, while center Moriba DeFreitas helped the L.A.-area team to a 48-26 rebounding advantage with 15 boards.

Thompson, a 6-1 guard from Anchorage (Dimond HS), exploded for 16 points in just over eight minutes at the outset, and the teams were tied 35-35 with 7 minutes left in the first half. Leading 39-37, CSUDH got consecutive three-pointers from Justin Standley to start a 13-0 run and give the Toros their largest advantage of the night at 52-37.

UAA sliced it to a 54-43 halftime score on two late baskets by McGill, and the Seawolves stormed out of the second-half gates with a huge surge that tied the game 60-60 before the 16-minute mark.

The Seawolves took a 73-69 lead on four straight free throws by Thompson, but the Toros kept it a one-possession game over the next few minutes, then tied it 77-77 on two free throws by Givon Crump. McGill snuck in for a short jumper moments later, only to be answered by a dunk from DeFreitas on the other end. DeFreitas was called for hanging on the rim, though, and Thompson connected on a pair of technical free throws to make it 81-79 with 3:45 on the clock.

Tied at 81, the Seawolves had a chance to take the lead, but CSUDH's Steffon Neal stole the ball with a minute left and fed Crump, who converted twice again from the stripe to give his team the lead. UAA senior guard Kyle Fossman missed a three-pointer with 45 seconds showing, and the Toros converted on one of two from the line, setting up the Seawolves' final chance.

UAA worked the ball to Thompson – who had been 4 of 7 on three-pointers to that point – but his tying attempt hit off the rim and bounced to Neal, who then sank the clinching free throws.

Fossman finished with 12 points, while sophomore forward Christian Leckband chipped in eight points.

Thompson, whose previous career-high was 24 points, shot 8 of 15 overall and 12 of 13 from the free-throw stripe. McGill – who redshirted last season along with Thompson after transferring from Western Oregon – shot 8 of 14 and was 7 of 9 at the charity line, along with a pair of steals.

The Seawolves return to action with three straight home games Nov. 15-17, beginning Friday (7 p.m. AST) when they host Holy Names in the AT&T Jamboree at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

NOTES: UAA played without junior swingman Teancum Stafford, who led the team with 19.5 points per game coming into Sunday; head coach Rusty Osborne said Stafford made the decision to honor his personal religious convictions … Thompson scored the most points for a Seawolf since Taylor Rohde put up 32 in an 2012 NCAA Tournament First Round win over Montana State Billings … Fossman rose to No. 28 on UAA's career scoring list, now with 767 points … Fossman also sank three three-pointers to pass former teammate Brandon Walker (152 3FGs, 2008-11) for No. 7 on that list with 153 … it was the first meeting between UAA and CSUDH since the 1987 NCAA Tournament.


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Players Mentioned

Kyle Fossman

#24 Kyle Fossman

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Taylor Rohde

#34 Taylor Rohde

F/C
6' 9"
Junior
Travis Thompson

#11 Travis Thompson

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Christian Leckband

#1 Christian Leckband

F
6' 5"
Freshman
Brian McGill

#RS Brian McGill

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Teancum Stafford

#30 Teancum Stafford

G
6' 5"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Kyle Fossman

#24 Kyle Fossman

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Taylor Rohde

#34 Taylor Rohde

6' 9"
Junior
F/C
Travis Thompson

#11 Travis Thompson

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Christian Leckband

#1 Christian Leckband

6' 5"
Freshman
F
Brian McGill

#RS Brian McGill

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Teancum Stafford

#30 Teancum Stafford

6' 5"
Sophomore
G