From Case Western Reserve University
The Case Western Reserve University men's basketball team hit a season-high 13 three-pointers en route to an 83-65 victory versus Geneva College (Pa.) on the opening night of the 2014 Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament at Horsburgh Gymnasium.
The Spartans (7-2) advance to play Trine University (Ind.) in tomorrow's championship at 4:00 p.m. The Golden Tornadoes (3-7) will play Saint Vincent College (Pa.) in the consolation at 2:00 p.m.
CWRU is now one win away from tying the 2011-12 and 2005-06 squads for the best 10-game start in program history.
The Spartans were 9-of-16 from beyond the arc in the first half and 13-for-29 for the game. Senior forward Dane McLoughlin (Westerville, Ohio/St. Charles Preparatory) hit five treys of his own as part of a 17-point, seven-rebound performance. Senior guard Julien Person (Paris, France/Second Baptist, Texas) was 3-for-3 from three-point range, finishing with 17 points.
Senior forward Brian Klements (Willoughby Hills, Ohio/Willoughby South) added 13 points, and junior guard Jimmy Holman (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) dished out a season-high nine assists.
Geneva was led by Ethan Adamcyzk with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Both teams pieced together early runs during a high-scoring first half, but the Spartans outscored the Golden Tornadoes, 21-9 over a span of 7:39, and led 45-31 following a Person layup with 2:55 remaining before the break. Geneva then accounted for the final five points of the half, including a put-back at the buzzer by Jordan Lawrence, to trim its deficit to 45-36.
In the second, CWRU held Geneva scoreless for the opening 4:39 and built their advantage to 18, at 54-36, after two Klements free throws at 15:42. With the score at 67-49 seven minutes later, Geneva rallied with a 9-0 run to pull within 67-58 as Tyler Damazo hit a free throw with 6:59 left to play. Several possessions later, the visitors threatened to pull within nine again, but a key block in transition by freshman forwardEric Black (Avon Lake, Ohio/Saint Ignatius) at 5:47 and ensuing three by McLoughlin at 5:40 regained the momentum for CWRU.
For the game, the Spartans were a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line, while Geneva was just 9-of-22. CWRU also dominated on the glass, 47-31.