FOREST GROVE, Ore. — While much about
Tim Cleary's 2015-16 men's basketball team is unknown, what the Boxer coach saw at first glance on Saturday night had to please him.
Pacific rolled to a 90-50 win over Macalester (Minn.) in its season opener at the Stoller Center to begin the campaign at 1-0. Macalester, who dropped its first game of the season on Friday night at Willamette 78-69, is now 0-2.
Pacific, featuring a number of newcomers that will get significant playing time this season, had four players in double figures on a night where they led from start to finish.
Bobby Ahern hit a trey just 11 seconds into the game to give his team a 3-0 lead and they would never trail the rest of the night. The Boxers rushed out to a 44-24 halftime lead and kept the pressure on in the second stanza with 46 more points to get the 40-point victory.
K.C. Harrison, one of those newcomers, led Pacific with 18 points.
Michael Joseph chipped in 13,
DeVon Pouncey added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Ahern finished with 11 points.
Pacific nailed 11 of 23 three-point attempts, including four makes by Harrison and three by Ahern. The home team had only eight turnovers on the night in front of 227 at the Stoller Center, and out-rebounded Macalester by a 44-30 margin.
Kareem Ismail led the visitors with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Boxers will continue non-conference play on Tuesday night, hosting New Hope Christian at 7 p.m.