ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State Seawolves (7-1, 4-0 CCAA) held off the visiting SF State Gators 55-51 in a CCAA defensive showdown at The Wolves Den in Rohnert Park this afternoon.
Udun Osakue paced the Gators with 17 points, 7 rebounds and four assists as SF State goes into the Holiday Break with a 4-4 overall record and a 2-2 CCAA record.
"We played extremely hard this evening," said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. "We just did not execute down the stretch while our turnovers proved costly." "We have to get better with handling the ball."
SF State jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game led by
Derrick Brown and
Bren Haley who each had five points during that opening stretch.
The Seawolves, who are alone in first place in the CCAA, outscored their guests 16-2 in the next six minutes to take a 16-15 lead on an Ahern lay-up. They increased their led to 32-27 late in the first half on a jumper by Andy Mitchell, but the Gators scored the final four points of the half to cut the Sonoma State lead to 32-31 heading into the locker room.
In the first half, the Gators shot 61% from the field including 57% from three-point land while the Seawolves shot 55% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
The second half was a totally different story as Sonoma State shot 47% from the field and just 17% from three's. The Gators shot 35% from the field and just 17% from three-point land.
The hosts increased their lead back to five (38-33) in the first four minutes of the second half, but the Gators went on an 11-2 run to take a 44-40 lead at the 8:19 mark capped by an
Andre Jones' trey.
Neither held larger than a four-point lead in the last eight minutes of the game. Andy Mitchell's old-fashioned three-point lead at the 4:50 mark gave the back lead 47-46.
A
Floyd Wormley lay-up on the Gators' next possession gave SF State the lead back, 48-47, but the hosts scored the next five points to take a 52-48 lead capped by a James Davis' three just 1:38 left on the clock.
SF State cut the Seawolf lead to 53-51 on an Osakue lay-up with just 22 ticks on the clock. The Gators forced a turnover by Sonoma State, but could not convert as they were forced to foul which Ahern sealed the win for the Seawolves with two made free throws, 55-51.
Ahern led the way for Sonoma State with 18 points while Davis chipped in 15 points.
SF State out-rebounded its hosts 29-19, but was 2-for-10 from the line while Sonoma State was 10-for-14.
The Gators will return home after the Holiday Break on Friday, January 2 as they host Cal State East Bay in a CCAA game at SF State's Main Gym at the Don Nasser Family Plaza.
Box Score ---
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
