This one will go down as one of the more memorable games of Tracy Bergan's career.
Bergan took over in the last three minutes and scored the fina10 points for Loyola College, leading the Greyhounds to a 63-59 victory over Canisius College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game before 1,111 at Reitz Arena last night.
Bergan was virtually the whole show down the stretch, as hhelped the Greyhounds (10-11, 3-7) complete a comeback from a 16-point first-half deficit.
Bergan, a sophomore from basketball-rich DeMatha High in Hyattsville, gave Loyola its first lead when he drove to the basket for a spinning layup and a 55-54 advantage with 2 minutes, 56 seconds remaining. He followed with a length-of-the-floor drive that put the home team ahead, 57-54.
There was a baseline drive for a 59-54 lead, a looping shot in thlane for a 61-57 advantage with 25 seconds left and two free throws with nine seconds remaining for a 63-57 edge.
Bergan finished with 16 points, 10 assists and three steals tpace the Greyhounds to their fourth victory in the past five games.
Bergan tried to play down his performance, but that was difficult.
"It wasn't like we were looking to me for every shot," he said. "Wwere running our offense, but it just so happened that I was able to get open."
Bergan's stock among the top guards in the MAAC certainly should rise.
"We have two great guards in the league in Doug Overto[LaSalle] and Marc Brown [Siena]," Bergan said, "but I like to think I can do some things on the court that aren't noticed as much, like taking charge and running the offense. I feel like our team is underrated a little and I guess I am also."
Loyola coach Tom Schneider said: "Tracy is as competitive aany player I've coached. I think a lot of teams concentrate too much on Kevin Green, and that helps Tracy. He's playing well, but still has a lot to learn."