Ford scores 28, Saint Mary's defeats Pacific 78-66

Feb 8, 2019, 05:03 pm

MORAGA, Calif. -- Jordan Ford scored 28 points, Malik Fitts had 12 of his 14 in the second half Thursday night and Saint Mary's defeated Pacific 78-66.

Ford's 3-pointer with seconds left in the first half put the Gaels (15-9, 6-3 West Coast Conference) on top 42-39 at the break and they never trailed in the second half. Fitts and Elijah Thomas hit 3-pointers to cap an 8-0 run for a 58-48 lead with 11:49 to play. A few minutes later Ford nailed a 3 and made three free throws and the lead was 13. Saint Mary's had at least a three-possession advantage the rest of the way.

The Gaels made 4 of 6 3-pointers in the second half to finish 10 of 17 from distance (59 percent). Pacific, which made 4 of 5 in the first half, made just 2 of 6 in the second half. After shooting 67 percent in the first half, the Tigers shot 36 percent in the second.

Jahlil Tripp had 23 points and Roberto Gallinat 20 for the Tigers (13-12, 3-7), who were outrebounded 31-19. Jeremiah Bailey added 16 points but no other Tiger had more than four.

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This story has been corrected to show that Pacific shot 36 percent in the second half, not 6 percent, and to correct a misspelling in Malik Fitts' last name in the second paragraph.