Dec. 12, 2008

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton's impressive run through the Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament to earn its first NCAA playoff berth in 30 years is one of three final "moments" in the running for the Div. I Colleges category of the 2008 Los Angeles Sports Council's Annual "Greatest Sports Moments" balloting.

The top moment in various categories is chosen annually along with the Top Ten Moments in Southern California sports at all levels. USC and UCLA are in their own category with all the other Div. I schools competing against one another. Fan voting begins Dec. 15 and runs through Jan. 15 and can be accessed by clicking here. Winners are announced at a black-tie banquet.

Fullerton's victory at Ohio State in the NCAA Softball Regionals was a runnerup moment in 2007.

Here are the Div. I memorable moment candidates:

Fullerton Wins Big West Basketball Tournament
No. 3-seeded Cal State Fullerton roared through the Big West Conference Tournament in Anaheim with three straight double-digit victories to win its first championship and first trip to the NCAA men's basketball tournament since 1978. Junior guard Josh Akognon averaged 22.3 points to earn Tournament MVP honors (March 13-15).

Pepperdine Advances to NCAA Men's Volleyball Finals
The Pepperdine men's volleyball team made it to the NCAA Championships final the hard way. In the qualifying MPSF Tournament they defeated higher-seeded teams from UCLA, Long Beach State and BYU, fighting off a match point to defeat BYU in a five-game final as senior All-American Jonathan Winder was named tournament MVP. One week later in Irvine, the Waves had to beat Long Beach State again in the NCAA semifinals, their run finally ending in the national championship match in a four-game loss to top-ranked Penn State (April 24-May 3).

UC Irvine Reaches NCAA Men's Soccer Round of 16
After winning its initial Big West Conference regular-season and tournament titles, UC Irvine advanced to the NCAA Tournament and round of 16 for the first time in history. The Anteaters, who were ranked as high as seventh in the nation, finished with an overall record of 15-2-6 and reached the round of 16 by defeating Cal Poly, 3-0, in the second round, at Irvine (November 25).