Trotters play it straight and lose

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, June 26, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

What began as a blowout turned into a battle.

What looked like a slaughter developed into a shootout.

When the smoke cleared, the team that was thoroughly dominated at the start emerged with a memorable overtime victory.

Fred Vinson scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to help ABA Select rally for a 100-95 win over the Harlem Globetrotters Tuesday night in the World Pro Basketball Challenge at Cox Pavilion.

ABA Select, which meets the London Leopards at 8 p.m. Thursday, trailed 29-10 after the first quarter. But they fought back to tie it 85-85 after regulation and went ahead for good on Michael Elliot's 3-pointer with 31 seconds left in OT. ABA Select scored the final seven points.

"We just stayed confident," Vinson said. "As a team, we kept the momentum going pretty much all of the second half.

"I think that's what kept us in the game. It's definitely one of those games you enjoy. It's like an old shootout. You give me your best and I'll give you my best and we'll see who wins at the end."

George Banks contributed 22 points and eight rebounds for ABA Select, while former L.A. Lakers forward A.C. Green had nine boards.

Juaquin Hawkins of ABA Select forced overtime by drilling a tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left. The Globetrotters' Duane Cooper hoisted a shot that clanged off the rim as regulation expired.

At the start, the Globetrotters outhustled, outmuscled and outshot the ABA squad, as coach Milton Barnes rotated several big men including former NBA 7-footer Olden Polynice. That seemed to baffle ABA Select.

The Globetrotters were also dominant from the perimeter, hitting 7-of-14 treys in the first half. Guard Ed Gray, who led the Pac-10 in scoring as a senior at Cal, scored 12 of his team-high 24 points before halftime.

ABA Select rallied after coach Reggie Theus went with a smaller lineup to counter the Globetrotters' power game.

"The Trotters are just a huge team, and they came out and were putting wood on our guys," Theus said. "I think our guys took a step back, but they didn't quit.

"Defense is what got us back in the game. Then our offense kicked in."

ABA Select took its first lead with 2:50 left in regulation after eight straight points by Vinson. The rally was helped by former Rancho High guard Michael Johnson, who compiled nine points.