MELBOURNE, Australia – The Pac-12 Men’s Basketball All-Star Team scored the game’s first 10 points and never looked back en route to a 107-51 victory over the Melbourne Tigers of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) Sunday afternoon at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
California’s Stephen Domingo led four members of the Pac-12 All-Stars in double figures with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Utah’s Lorenzo Bonam collected 16 points and two steals, while the Arizona pair of Chance Comanche (14) and Kadeem Allen (10) rounded out the team’s double-digit scorers.
“I was pleased overall,” Pac-12 All-Star Team head coach Mike Montgomery said. “We shared the ball well. There are so many things we have to try and teach in a short period of time and I am pleased with their attitude. We had a nice practice yesterday after we arrived here in Australia and the guys really had their legs underneath them today. We shot the ball pretty well and moved it pretty well.”
Playing under FIBA’s four 10-minute quarter format, the Pac-12 All-Stars stormed out to a 30-16 advantage after one quarter of play. The Tigers tried to cut into the lead towards the middle of the second quarter, before Stevie Thompson Jr. ended their run with a bucket with 2:21 to play in the opening half. The Pac-12 All-Stars built some momentum of their own to stretch their lead to 55-32 at the half.
The Pac-12 All-Stars clamped down on defense in the second half, holding Melbourne to just 19 points and 7-of-32 (21.8 percent) on field goals over the final 20 minutes of the game.
Domingo scored six points in each of the first three quarters, before sitting out the final period. He totaled 18 minutes on the court in Sunday’s contest, tying Melbourne’s Ari Stewart, a former member of USC’s program, with the game-high point total.
“We have been competing against each other the past five days, so it was good to come out and go against some other competition,” Domingo said. “We put together a strong all-around performance and played unselfish basketball. It was good to bond with our guys and get out and play in front of these fans. The people of Melbourne have been such great hosts these last two days and we are thankful to be a part of this experience.”
The Pac-12 All-Star team got production throughout its lineup, with 11 of the 12 players recording points in Sunday’s contest. Colorado’s Wesley Gordon collected a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points and a block in 17 minutes of action, while sitting out the final quarter.
USC’s Jordan McLaughlin totaled a game-high five assists in 19 minutes of action. Allen and Stanford’s Dorian Pickens had two three-point field goals each to join Domingo with multiple three-pointers in the contest as the Pac-12 All-Stars converted 13 threes in the game.
The Pac-12 All-Star Team now turns its attention to the Australian Men’s National Team. The Pac-12 All-Stars will face the Boomers at Hisense Arena in Melbourne on Tuesday (July 12) at 2:30 a.m. PT. It will be the first of two exhibition contests against the Boomers, as the two teams will also face each other on Thursday (July 14) at 2:30 a.m. PT. Both games will be carried live on the Pac-12 Network with Roxy Bernstein and Don MacLean calling all the action.
I can see CSM sending Chance to get some more minutes in, but you would think someone like Trier should be rewarded for staying. Don't think any more minutes will improve Allen's game. Ristic too could use more minutes to get his confidence back.
I hate to say it, but the Euro game has had too much influence on Ristic for him to do much more than he already does IMHO.
He's just going to have trouble with more athletic 5s, but he can learn how to pass out of the double team and hedge to prevent showing his @$$ on the pick-and-roll any further.
Ristic is falling into the Zeus mold at this point, for good and for bad. He's a good starting center for first halves of games and in NCAA grinders, but Comanche needs to see at least 20 mpg this upcoming season.
And Miller may have to loosen up and play small ball to win the conference. Certainly hustle needs to be rewarded.
I can see CSM sending Chance to get some more minutes in, but you would think someone like Trier should be rewarded for staying. Don't think any more minutes will improve Allen's game. Ristic too could use more minutes to get his confidence back.
I think playing against professionals could definitely improve Allen's game and he has been playing really well. Had 15 pts, 5 rbs in a loss today. Good experience for both of these guys
I can see CSM sending Chance to get some more minutes in, but you would think someone like Trier should be rewarded for staying. Don't think any more minutes will improve Allen's game. Ristic too could use more minutes to get his confidence back.
I think playing against professionals could definitely improve Allen's game and he has been playing really well. Had 15 pts, 5 rbs in a loss today. Good experience for both of these guys
I was supposed to go to Tuesday's game, but got tied up and couldn't. Thursday looks like a no-go at the moment - its my Anniversary - I don't think it'll fly.
Any sufficiently advanced troll is indistinguishable from a genuine kook.
Playing the kind of team that can lose by 50 points to a slapped together group of second tier PAC-12 players does seem to be right about Kadeem's level.
I'm definitely hoping it is not Chance's level though.
legallykenny wrote:Playing the kind of team that can lose by 50 points to a slapped together group of second tier PAC-12 players does seem to be right about Kadeem's level.
I'm definitely hoping it is not Chance's level though.
Not sure what you are saying here - I guess you don't like Kadeem? OK.
First game they played was club team to shake off the jet lag, and yes it wasn't much of a match.
Second game was against the Australian National Team that is loaded with NBA players and is looking to medal at the Olympics. The 'All-Stars' played well against the Boomers going down by 11 points.
I'm looking forward to yelling 'Bear Down' at Kadeem and Chance tonight after a good play or two!
Any sufficiently advanced troll is indistinguishable from a genuine kook.
