HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Jake Bazeley, Jordan Jeffries and Adam Heitzman combined for 43 points Saturday night as Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University defeated Northern Kentucky University, 66-55, in the championship game of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic in Regents Hall.
Bazeley finished with a game-high 16 points for Christian Brothers, which improved to 4-0. Jeffries added 14 points and five rebounds, while Heitzman - named the tournament’s most outstanding player - scored 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and had two blocked shots.
Christian Brothers built a 38-26 halftime lead by shooting 64.3 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Bazeley and Jeffries each scored 10 points before halftime, and Heitzman added nine.
NKU (2-3) cut the lead to 40-37 at the 11:54 mark when Steve Purdon hit a three-pointer, but Christian Brothers responded with a 6-0 run to extend its advantage to 46-37.
Jesse Rupe led NKU with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and he also added two blocked shots. Rupe was named the tournament’s best defensive player.
Mike Kelsey added 12 points for the Norse, who made just 32.9 percent of their shots from the field. NKU was 7 of 26 from three-point range.
It marked the first time since 1998 that NKU had not captured the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. Central State University won the tournament that year with an 86-82 victory in the championship game against the Norse.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
TEAM
Jason Jones, W. Va. Wesleyan
Geoff Husted, Gannon
Kevin Reinhardt, NKU
Jordan Jeffries, Christian Brothers
Mike Kelsey, NKU
Best Defensive Player - Jesse Rupe, NKU
Most Valuable Player - Adam Heitzman, Christian Brothers
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Jesse Rupe |