Box Score ST. GEORGE, UT – Chaminade took down the 2012 PacWest Conference Champs, Dixie State, 73-71 at the Burns Arena on the campus of Dixie State. The Silverswords came out with an impressive first half, leading the Red Storm by eight points at the break 36-28.
CUH was ready to go as the Swords led by thirteen points, 28-15 after a
Lee Bailey (Detroit, MI/Detroit Country Day) three off an assist from
Bennie Murray (Fairfield, CA/Will C. Wood) with 8:03 left in the half. Senior forward
Rickey Clayborn (Chicago, IL/E. Chicago) had a truly dominant first half, knocking down two threes, scoring 14 points, shooting 6-8 from the floor.
The Silverswords shot 15-28, for 54% from the floor in the opening half, while holding Dixie to 32%. CUH had 11 assists and only 6 turnovers in the first twenty minutes.
Senior
Matt Cousins (Santa Rosa, CA/Cardinal Newman) also had a solid first half with 8 points.
Cousins picked up his fourth foul just four minutes into the second half as the Swords led by four. Clayborn did his best to keep CUH ahead, shooting a red-hot 11-15, finishing with 24 points, a career-high. The 6'5 senior, who dominated the paint, also added 8 rebounds for the Silverswords.
The Swords held off a concerted Dixie effort early in the second half as Chaminade led 51-46 with 11:42 left in the contest. CUH, after leading since the early moments of the first half, lost the lead to Dixie State with 4:21 after McKay Massey completed a three-point play to take a 66-63 lead. Chaminade did not flinch in a tough road environment, and instead rallied back. With the game tied at 71-71, Chaminade's
Lee Bailey scored the game-winner, making a tough shot in the lane with two seconds left to take a 73-71 lead. A desperation shot from the Red Storm missed and the Swords earned the win. Bailey finished with 14 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in an all-around effort, while
Bennie Murray finished with 12 points and Cousins with 10 points in the win.
Coach Bovaird was excited after the win: “Wow. What an awesome win against the best team in the conference. Our guys played like they are capable of and Rickey was a beast tonight. Dixie is a tough team, and I know they will do will in the NCAA Tournament. I am proud of the way our guys kept composure and executed down the stretch.”
The Swords lost a very close battle on the glass, being out-rebounded 35-34 by Dixie. CUH shot 49% from the floor while the Swords tough defense held the Red Storm to 40% for the contest.
The Red Storm was led by McKay Massey with 14 points.
Chaminade remains on the road for PacWest action on March 1st at BYU-Hawaii. Tip is set for 7:30 PM HT in Laie, HI.
With the win, the Swords move to 10-13, 8-8 in PWC while Dixie State moves to 20-5, 15-2 in the PWC with the loss.
