Dribblings 12/15/2004 (A Tribute To A Great Man Edition)

Siena 79, Youngstown State 78 (4OT) (story) - The Saints and Penguins were tied at 50 after regulation, and the teams struggled to make baskets in what amounted to a complete third half - Siena barely outshot host YSU 36%-35% for the whole game. Diminutive (5'9") Tay Fisher hit three treys in the fourth OT, including the game-winner with eight seconds left. Penguin guard Derrick Harris led his team with 22. As Ken Pomeroy points out, quadruple overtime doesn't happen very often - the last time was a 2003 Ohio-Akron match. The most overtimes ever in an D1 game is seven, which happened when Cincinnati beat Bradley in 1981. See a pattern? Both "overtime" and "Ohio" start with "O." Spooky!

California-Irvine 70, Santa Clara 58 (story) - Zot! Zot! Zot! UCI is several years removed from its relative glory days of hot-shooting Jerry Green, 20-win seasons, Big West semifinal trip-ups and NIT berths. They helped early-season giant-killer Santa Clara continue the slump Cal Poly started for them on Sunday by knocking them out right there in the Broncos' building. Santa Clara made up the deficit from an early second half UCI run of 19-6, but let it slip away in the final minutes. Big Greg Ethington had 14 points and nine boards for the Anteaters.

San Diego sports have embraced gambling sponsorships ever since entire Padres baseball seasons were "brought to you by" an area casino. Is San Diego State Aztec basketball next? (And if anyone could explain this new Texas Hold 'Em poker fad to me, I'd be very grateful. Is high-stakes Tiddly Winks next?).

When you follow the mid-majors, a fair number of the players you fall in love with end up getting contracts to play pro ball in Europe. Most end up on the mainland - but former Toledo point guard Nick Moore has set up shop in England. Apparently the refs are incredibly touchy there.

Let me say that I am privileged and honored to have attended Rick Majerus' final game ever as a television analyst, which happened to be Game 16 of the 100 Games Project. Majerus will be leaving ESPN immediately and will coach Southern California next season. I realized this morning that Rick was the only person connected with the WWLIS basketball operation I could listen to without wanting to throw up.

So I want to pay tribute to Rick Majerus the only way I know how. By Photoshopping his head onto Fat Albert's body. For the last time.

Goodbye, Rick. And good luck in your new job.

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