UC Davis men win on last-second shot
It wasn’t the play UC Davis men’s basketball coach Jim Les drew up.
But Les was more than happy to take the result after freshman Siler Schneider’s three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left gave UC Davis a 63-62 win over Cal State-Northridge in a Big West Conference game Thursday night at the Pavilion.
Micheal Warren’s runner put the Matadors ahead 62-60 with 11 seconds left. But the Aggies, who had drawn up a play during a timeout four seconds before Warren’s basket, quickly inbounded, point guard Darius Graham drove up the court, then passed to Josh Fox, who was covered. But Fox found Schneider open in the corner for the game-winner in front of an announced crowd of 2,498.
Les had wanted the ball to go to Fox, his veteran leader, for either a game-tying or game-winning shot. Fox had helped ignite an Aggies’ comeback from 11 points down with just under 13 minutes to play in a game UCD trailed for all but 47 seconds.
“The play looked nothing like we had drawn up,” Les said. “The only thing we did get right is that Siler was supposed to be on Fox’s side.
The play looked nothing like we had drawn up. The only thing we did get right is that Siler was supposed to be on Fox’s side. Fox did say in the time out, if they come and double me, you be ready to shoot the ball. Siler had a lot of confidence, didn’t bat and eye, and said give it to me and I’ll knock it in.
UC Davis coach Jim Les on Siler Schneider’s game-winning shot
“Fox did say in the time out, if they come and double me, you be ready to shoot the ball. Siler had a lot of confidence, didn’t bat and eye, and said give it to me and I’ll knock it in.”
Schneider realized he might get the shot when he saw Fox being double teamed while he was wide open on the perimeter.
“He found me in a good spot and that was that,” Schneider said.
Les wasn’t surprised by Schneider’s confidence. The Aggies’ No. scorer has been making big plays all season.
“He has a three to tie the game (and send it into overtime) at Seattle, he has this to win the game,” Les said. “Some guys don’t get that opportunity in a career and he’s got two of them, which says a lot about him and his make up in the first half of the season.”
It the first Big West Conference win for the struggling Aggies (6-10, 1-2), the defending conference regular-season champions.
“I think a game like this will be a good steppingstone moving forward in conference,” Schneider said.
Schneider led the Aggies with 17 points and added four assists despite having to sit more than seven minutes after getting a technical, his fourth foul, with 11:21 to play after exchanging words with the Matador’s Tre Hale-Edmerson, who also was assessed a technical.
He has a three to tie the game (and send it into overtime) at Seattle, he has this to win the game. Some guys don’t get that opportunity in a career and he’s got two of them, which says a lot about him and his make up in the first half of the season.
UC Davis coach Jim Les on Siler Schneider’s game-winning shot
Fox had 13 points and eight rebounds, Brynton Lemar 10 points and Big West rebounding leader Neal Monson had a game-high 13 rebounds and eight points.
Warren led the Matadors (6-11, 1-2) with 16 points. Kendall Smith, Northridge’s leading scorer (20.3), was held to a season-low eight points.
The Aggies trailed by by 11 points with 13 minutes to play before rallying to within 58-56 with 5:12 left after a 13-4 run. A basket by Fox tied it 60-60 with 41 seconds to go.
Les said the Aggies have had their share of close games end in favor of their opponent.
“Learning to win is a learned behavior and sometimes you have to go through some adversity and setbacks,” Les said. “I thought the resolve that this group showed and the mental toughness down the stretch (led to) big plays by everybody who was on the floor.”
Bill Paterson: 916-326-5506, @SacBee_BillP
This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 11:48 AM with the headline "UC Davis men win on last-second shot."