Every time Dartmouth tried to make a run against San Francisco on Wednesday night, the Dons had an answer. They eventually closed out the Big Green 71-69 in a men's quarterfinal game in the Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.
David Rufful's 3-pointer with 26 seconds left was the last of three long-range strikes by Dartmouth in the final minute. The shot cut San Francisco's lead to 69-68, but San Francisco held its lead by making 2 of 4 free throws in the final seven seconds.
San Francisco's Michael Williams led all scorers with 23 points, Rashad Green finished with 18 for the Dons, and Angelo Caloiaro hit all seven of his free-throw attempts to finish with 16 points.
Ruffel led Dartmouth with 19 points, followed by 17 points from R.J. Griffin, who hit three shots from beyond the arc.
San Francisco will play Murray State in Friday's early semifinal game, and Dartmouth will play UAA in a consolation game Friday.
DARTMOUTH (69) -- Golden 0-5 0-0 0, Rufful 7-10 0-0 19, LaBove 0-3 0-0 0, Trotter 0-2 1-2 1, Griffin 6-12 2-2 17, Melville 1-1 0-0 2, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Crecco 1-1 2-2 5, McKearney 1-4 1-2 4, Maldunas 6-12 2-3 14, Brooks 1-1 5-5 7. Totals 23-52 13-16 69.
SAN FRANCISCO (71) -- Blackwell 1-6 1-3 3, Caloiaro 4-9 7-7 16, Williams 7-14 6-8 23, Green 5-11 6-7 18, Doolin 0-5 0-0 0, O'Connor 4-7 0-0 8, Johnson 1-3 1-2 3, Raffington 0-1 0-0 0, Dickerson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-57 21-27 71.
Dartmouth 23 46 -- 69
San Francisco 28 43 -- 71
3-point goals -- Dartmouth 10-23 (Golden 0-3, Ruffel 5-7, Trotter 0-2, Griffin 3-6, Jackson 0-1, Crecco 1-1, McKearney 1-3. USF 6-14 (Caloiaro 1-3, Williams 3-6, Green 2-3, Doolin 0-2). Rebounds -- Dartmouth 31 (Brooks 6), USF 34 (3 with 5). Total fouls -- Dartmouth 22, USF 18. Fouled out -- Brooks, Johnson. Assists -- Dartmouth 19 (Trotter 7), San Francisco 14 (3 with 3). Turnovers -- Dartmouth 16 (Trotter 3, Melville 3), USF 12 (Blackwell 4). Blocked shots -- Dartmouth 6 (LaBove 2, Brooks 2). Steals -- Dartmouth 4 (4 with 1), USF 9 (O'Connor 3). Officials -- Stith, Chelette, Lujan.
Anchorage Daily News