BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Watching from the bench, along with key players Kevin Atkins and Kyle Baxter on the bench after fouling out, head coach Tom Wood saw his 29-year career come to the end with a 75-66 loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the NCAA Division II West Region Championships.
The loss finished the long-time mentor's career with 463 wins against 351 losses. In the more recent scholarship era, dating back to the 200-01 season, Wood's teams have posted a 217-77 record for a .738 winning percentage, and have made nine trips to the NCAA postseason in the past 10 yeas.
On Friday, the Jacks missed out on a chance to keep Wood's career going, as the Coyotes were able to take advantage of the Jacks' foul trouble in the waning minutes. Atkins, who finished with nine points and is one of the Jacks' four seniors, picked up his fourth foul with 5 minutes, 52 seconds left to play and his team leading by one at 57-56.
Head Coach finished his career with 463 wins.
He was forced out with five fouls when hit tream trailed, 64-64 with 1:20 left on the clock, and was followed by Baxter shortly thereafter. CSUSB's Bryan LeDuc hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"Most of all, I feel bad for these players who have worked so hard to get here," Wood said. "They deserve better than having it end like this. I've been very lucky to have coached them and all of the other fine young men we've had in our program over the years."
Aaron Hill was the Coyotes' top scorer scoring 17 points, including eight in the first half that helped his team gain a 34-31 lead at the half. Devon Davis added 16 points, Corey Caston had 12, and LeDuc finished with 10.
The Jacks were led by Brian Morris' 17 points, and sophomore Elliot Babcock-Krenk contributed 13 for HSU. Another senior and the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, Zac Tiedeman, scored nine points with five assists despite being limited in playing time when he picked up two fouls in the game's opening minutes.
Humboldt State's season ended at 22-8, marking the ninth time Wood has guided a program to more than 20 wins in a season. His longtime assistant coach, Steve Kinder, will take over as head coach next year.
Humboldt State vs Cal State San Bernardino
03/12/10 3:02 pm PST at Bellingham, WA
At Bellingham, WA
CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO 75, HUMBOLDT STATE 66
HUMBOLDT STATE (22-8)
MORRIS, Brian 8-14 1-3 17; BABCOCK-KRENK,Elliot 4-6 2-2 13; ATKINS, Kevin
1-10 7-8 9; TIEDEMAN, Zac 2-9 4-4 9; BAXTER, Kyle 2-5 2-3 7; SPADA, Ernie
2-9 0-0 6; PETTY, Will 1-2 0-0 3; BUCHANAN, Derrick 1-2 0-0 2; KEHRIG, Mike
0-0 0-0 0; BROOME, David 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-57 16-20 66.
CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO (23-7)
HILL, Aaron 4-5 8-9 17; DAVIS, Devon 6-15 4-4 16; CASTON, Corey 3-11 4-6 12;
LeDUC, Bryan 2-5 4-5 10; JEFFERSON, David 2-4 3-4 7; GASTON, Steven 3-7 1-2
7; TYSON, Lawrence 1-4 1-2 4; WILLIAMS, Greg 1-1 0-0 2; KINNEY, Ryan 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 22-52 25-32 75.
Humboldt State................ 31 35 - 66
Cal State San Bernardino...... 34 41 - 75
3-point goals--Humboldt State 8-34 (BABCOCK-KRENK,Elliot 3-5; SPADA, Ernie
2-9; PETTY, Will 1-2; TIEDEMAN, Zac 1-8; BAXTER, Kyle 1-3; ATKINS, Kevin
0-6; MORRIS, Brian 0-1), Cal State San Bernardino 6-17 (CASTON, Corey 2-5;
LeDUC, Bryan 2-4; TYSON, Lawrence 1-3; HILL, Aaron 1-1; GASTON, Steven 0-3;
DAVIS, Devon 0-1). Fouled out--Humboldt State-ATKINS, Kevin; BAXTER, Kyle,
Cal State San Bernardino-JEFFERSON, David. Rebounds--Humboldt State 37
(MORRIS, Brian 6; BABCOCK-KRENK,Elliot 6), Cal State San Bernardino 35
(LeDUC, Bryan 7). Assists--Humboldt State 16 (TIEDEMAN, Zac 5), Cal State
San Bernardino 11 (CASTON, Corey 5). Total fouls--Humboldt State 26, Cal
State San Bernardino 17. Technical fouls--Humboldt State-MORRIS, Brian, Cal
State San Bernardino-DAVIS, Devon. A-240
2010 NCAA Division II West Region Quarterfinal #2