University boys basketball team rallies from 16-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Millikan 82-80 in Tustin Classic

Junior guard Will Stenta was one of the Trojans leading scorers Thursday.

University’s boys basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter and went on to defeat Long Beach Millikan 82-80 in the second round of the Tustin Classic.

The Trojans (11-7 overall) move on to the semifinals to face Los Osos Friday at 6 p.m. at Tustin.

‘We were down 73-57 with six minutes remaining,” said University Coach Mike Dinneen.

The Trojans went on a 21-0 lead to take the lead late.

“We pressed earlier and we just didn’t have the necessary energy,” Dinneen said. “I don’t like necessarily taking the press off, but we didn’t stop them at all. They scored 50 points in the first half.

“We just didn’t compete really hard today in the first half, until maybe the end of the first half. But something kicked in and we went back to the press at the start of the fourth quarter and turned them over and went from 16 down to five up in about a three and a half minute period.”

Kody Uyesugi led University with 23 points, 10 assists and five 3-pointers, Will Stenta had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, Brandon Liu had 16 points and five rebounds, Andrea Roy had 16 points and four 3-pointers and Sam Aryan had seven points and 15 rebounds.

Stenta turned in another strong game after being cleared to play this week. Last week, he went through concussion protocol after hitting the floor in the second half of the PCL game during a play against Northwood. But it was later determined Stenta did not have a concussion and was OK to play, Dinneen said.

“It started off a little rough,” Stenta said of Thursday’s game. “We kind of put ourselves in a bad position going down almost 20 but we were able to regroup in the fourth quarter and really play together and we were able to pull it out with the win.

“I got cleared to play on Wednesday. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go, but it was nice I was able to play this week and I’m happy to be here.”