IRVINE – University 2.0 tipped off Wednesday hoping to take advantage of Senior Night emotion with a lineup that started two sophomores – one of them a backup to another sophomore.
But life without a starting point guard can be tough – even one in the 10th grade – and the Trojans fell to Northwood despite a notable but mistake-filled effort.
Northwood’s 57-51 victory at University kept the Timberwolves a game behind first-place Portola in the Pacific Coast League. They improved to 10-11 overall, 4-1 in league – having been beaten by one-loss Irvine – with a league finale scheduled against unbeaten Portola.
University dropped to 6-15 overall, 2-3 in league.
“It’s kind of scary to think that in the next couple of years that team’s going to get more experience,” Northwood coach Anthony De La Cruz said. “But they move the ball really well. I think once they get more experience under their belt they’re going to be a really tough team. They’re a tough team now, they’ll give anyone a test. I think it was just us being disciplined.”
University played its first game without Connor Cao, who broke his leg in the second half of a 46-44 loss to Woodbridge. He’s out at least six weeks, which means the rest of the season.
“That’s the guy with the ball in his hands, and I think it was evident we were short a ball-handler,” University coach John Goins said. “That really hurt us … not having someone who can just catch it and go.”
But University showed a lot of scrappiness without him. Although the Trojans hung tough early – tied at 14-14 after one quarter, down by two points with 2½ minutes left in the half – they fell behind by 14 with 2:56 left in the third quarter only to make a serious run over the final 10½ minutes.
The Trojans eventually pulled to 52-47 with 5:08 to go on Lucas Haun’s 3-point basket, but the offensive spurt that had gotten them back in the game dried up, along with their chances of pulling the upset.
Importantly, Haun’s 3-pointer was the last field goal University would make.
“I think the game was won with our energy down the stretch,” said Adrian Elemento, who finished with a team-high 16 points for Northwood. “Our defense was really helping us out with steals and stops, especially toward the end of the game. Our guards were everywhere on their press, especially getting steals in the backcourt and getting layups.”
Haun’s free throws made it a three-point margin, 54-51, with 1:48 remaining, but Uni couldn’t get any closer. Elemento’s free throws with 24 seconds left, and layup with three seconds remaining, finished the scoring.
Sam Alegre scored 13 points for Northwood, and Dane Mortensen and Ellis Malang added 11 apiece.
University got 17 from Haun, and 13 from Nader Chalan. Abdallah Shami added 9 points, 19 rebounds (including 10 on the offensive end) and 5 assists. Cao’s replacement, Yousuf Chalan, had 8 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.
“We make youthful mistakes, but it’s not for lack of effort,” Goins said. “This is really the first year of varsity for all of them, and it’s my first year here. We have guys who have completely bought in and they’re learning, but at the beginning of the season, they didn’t know you go to a locker room before a game – they were changing in the bathroom.”
The Trojans have come a long way since then even if their record doesn’t show it.