# 1996–97 Pacific Tigers men's basketball team

The 1996–97 Pacific Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of the Pacific during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers were led by ninth-year head coach Bob Thomason and played their home games at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, California as members of the Big West Conference.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 22, 1996* | | at No. 14 Fresno State | L 71–75 | 0–1 | Selland Arena Fresno, California |
| Nov 26, 1996* | | Stanislaus State | W 91–51 | 1–1 | Alex G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Nov 30, 1996* | | at BYU | W 80–58 | 2–1 | Marriott Center Provo, Utah |
| Dec 5, 1996* | | at San Diego | W 63–57 | 3–1 | USD Sports Center San Diego, California |
| Dec 7, 1996* | | at Pepperdine | W 54–52 | 4–1 | Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, California |
| Dec 14, 1996* | | Chico State | W 90–55 | 5–1 | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Dec 21, 1996* | | Santa Clara | W 77–59 | 6–1 | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Dec 23, 1996* | | Sacramento State | W 95–50 | 7–1 | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Dec 28, 1996* | | vs. Georgetown | W 73–56 | 8–1 | Halifax Metro Center Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Jan 4, 1997* | | at Sacramento State | W 73–47 | 9–1 | Hornets Nest Sacramento, California |
| Jan 9, 1997 | | at UC Irvine | W 63–52 | 10–1 (1–0) | Bren Events Center Irvine, California |
| Jan 11, 1997 | | at Cal State Fullerton | W 67–60 | 11–1 (2–0) | Titan Gym Fullerton, California |
| Jan 16, 1997* | | Idaho | W 64–54 | 12–1 (3–0) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Jan 18, 1997* | | Long Beach State | W 74–57 | 13–1 (4–0) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Jan 23, 1997 | | Cal Poly | W 68–64 | 14–1 (5–0) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Jan 25, 1997 | | UC Santa Barbara | W 69–51 | 15–1 (6–0) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Jan 30, 1997* | | at North Texas | W 55–52 | 16–1 (6–1) | Super Pit Denton, Texas |
| Feb 1, 1997 | | at New Mexico State | L 76–80 $^{OT}$ | 16–2 (7–1) | Pan American Center Las Cruces, New Mexico |
| Feb 6, 1997 | | Utah State | W 77–71 $^{OT}$ | 17–2 (8–1) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Feb 9, 1997 | | Nevada | W 63–60 | 18–2 (9–1) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Feb 13, 1997 | | at UC Santa Barbara | L 69–75 | 18–3 (9–2) | The Thunderdome Santa Barbara, California |
| Feb 15, 1997 | | at Cal Poly | L 92–93 | 18–4 (9–3) | Mott Gym San Luis Obispo, California |
| Feb 20, 1997 | | Cal State Fullerton | W 81–57 | 19–4 (10–3) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Feb 22, 1997 | | UC Irvine | W 96–46 | 20–4 (11–3) | A.G. Spanos Center Stockton, California |
| Feb 27, 1997 | | at Boise State | W 63–53 | 21–4 (12–3) | BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho |
| Mar 1, 1997 | | Long Beach State | L 75–79 | 21–5 (12–4) | The Walter Pyramid Long Beach, California |
| Big West tournament ||||||
| Mar 7, 1997* | | vs. Boise State Quarterfinals | W 68–52 | 22–5 | Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada |
| Mar 8, 1997* | | vs. Utah State Semifinals | W 71–54 | 23–5 | Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada |
| Mar 9, 1997* | | at Nevada Championship game | W 63–55 | 24–5 | Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 13, 1997* | (13 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 12 Saint Joseph's First round | L 65–75 | 24–6 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. All times are in Pacific Time. ||||||
Source: