Photo By: Scot Wolverton

By Keon McMillan

The Charlotte 49ers kept a 10-point lead up to a little under the 10 minute mark of the second half. A series of fouls, defensive stops and gritty play under the basket for both teams allowed several chances for a Huskies comeback, but to no avail. The 49ers took home the Shootout crown with a 67-59 over the Northeastern Huskies.

Fouling was problematic for both squads late in the game. With only six minutes left, the 49ers had already put the Huskies in the double bonus and Northeastern was nearly returning the favor for the 49ers.

It was a seven-point lead for Charlotte with almost two minutes left. Two three-pointers from leading scorer Joel Smith and second leading scorer David Walker brought the Huskies within four points. Senior forward Chris Braswell finished 100 percent from the foul-line, sealing the game for his team.

The Huskies couldn’t get the ball in the basket in this one, shooting 34 percent on the night. Joel Smith added on 10 points to his first half statistics. He finished with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. David Walker had a memorable night as well adding 13 points and four dimes.

Pierria Henry didn’t have many stats in tonight’s game (including a scoreless first half), but he was the floor general for the 49ers in this matchup. Henry was able to stop the ball, scored when needed and distributed the rock nicely when being defended. Henry finished with six points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Charlotte’s Terrence Williams had the overall best night for his team, ending the game with 13 points, three boards, four assists and three blocks. His teammate Darion Clark led in rebounding for the 49ers with eight, in addition to his 10 points.

All-Tournament Team: Quincy Ford (NU), Joel Smith (NU), Ian Clark (BU), Trevor Noack (BU), Kyle Fossman (UAA), Teancum Stafford (UAA), Anthony Ireland (LMU), Chris Braswell (Char.), Terrence Williams (Char.), Pierria Henry (Char.)

Most Outstanding Player: Pierria Henry (Char.)

2013 Women’s Field: Alaska Anchorage, Georgetown, UC Riverside, TBD

2013 Men’s Field: Denver, Iowa, Alaska Anchorage, Indiana State, Harvard, Tulsa, Texas Christian, Pepperdine

Photo By: Scot Wolverton

Keon McMillan

The Charlotte 49ers controlled the tempo in the first half of the championship game. Allowing no points for the Northeastern Huskies until almost eight minutes into the game, it was a defensive showcase for the 49ers, who lead 30-19 at halftime.

Although the Huskies only lead in turnovers by one, they’ve made several careless passes over the hands of the 49er defense and got into foul trouble early, and the 49ers have been able to capitalize. Terrence Williams has stuffed the stat sheet for Charlotte, leading in points, assists and blocks with eight, three and two. Darion Clark leads in rebounds with five.

The Huskies haven’t shot the ball well throughout this game. Hitting 7 of 26 shots in the first 20 minutes, it’s surprising they are as close as they are. Joel Smith has been their go-to man and he leads his team with eight points. Smith and sophomore forward Reggie Spencer are tied in rebounding with three apiece.

If the 49ers continue the defensive pressure they’ve kept up in the first half, they will leave as the Shootout champs.

Photo By: Mackenzie Masson

By Thomas McIntyre

The Belmont Bruins avoid dropping games on two straight nights and defeat the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 70-67 to take third place in the Great Alaska Shootout.

The night may have been won shortly after the second half started. Damen Bell-Holter, who was having a massive game, picked up his third and fourth fouls and spent most of the final 20 minutes chilling on the bench.

The Golden Eagles’ backup big-man Jorden Kaufman emerged for a brief period of time and helped keep the team within reach. But the Bruins’ late-game execution on offense created too big a gap for ORU to comeback from. A rally in the final minutes of play was too little, too late.

To amplify how small an impact Bell-Holter had on the second half, here are his numbers for the last period: two points and zero rebounds. The Golden Eagles couldn’t overcome losing him to foul trouble.

The Bruins continued to go to Kerron Johnson, who was named Player of the Game, for their offensive needs. He ended with 20 points, seven assists, four boards and a couple steals.

Blake Jenkins made up for a poor shooting night from Ian Clark by registering 22 points on nine shots. Superb efficiency.

Steven Roundtree played a similar role as Jenkins for his Golden Eagles. Warren Niles was taken out of the game and Roundtree lessened the blow with his 13-point and 16-board outing.

The Golden Eagles end their Shootout run as the fifth place team.

Check out highlights of the second half.

Photo By: Mackenzie Masson

By Thomas McIntyre

The Belmont Bruins are coming off a surprising second round loss to the Northeastern Huskies. And now, the team that was a big favorite to take this tournament, is in a close one with the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. After a half of play, the Bruins are lucky to be up 37-32.

Ian Clark lit the Huskies up last night, sniping nine threes on 9 of 11 shooting. The Golden Eagles took note and have trapped Clark whenever he tries to get separation using ball screens. This strategy held Clark to only one trey in the first 20 minutes.

Although he’s struggled to get his long-range game going, Clark hasn’t forced the issue. He’s made several great reads and has three passes leading to points.

The Golden Eagles may have slowed down Clark but his backcourt teammate Kerron Johnson is shredding the frontline of ORU’s defense. He has 11 points, three assists and two steals.

Damen Bell-Holter is showing out for his fellow Alaskans. The big fella scored the Golden Eagles’ first six points and finished the first half with 10 points and eight boards. However, Bell-Holter closed the half by committing his second foul with just 33 seconds left. He’s got to stay out of foul trouble if the Golden Eagles want to stay in this game.

I’d watch for the Bruins to go after Bell-Holter and work in their press over the next half. The Golden Eagles will probably try to get their high-volume scorer Warren Niles going with some clean looks.

Check out highlights of the first half.

Photo By: Mackenzie Masson

By Keldon Irwin

Determined to even the score, the Lions rushed onto the court with a ferocity not previously seen in the first half.

In the first few minutes of play, Colton Lauwers of the Seawolves unintentionally knocked out the tooth of the Lions’ point guard Anthony Ireland in an incident where they both tumbled to the floor. After cleaning himself up, Ireland continued to play.

Liam Gibcus of the Seawolves received a technical foul at 17:38 for pinning a player to the ground under the basket. It appeared as if he was trash talking him as well. In response, the Lions’ Ashley Hamilton pushed Gibcus out of the way as soon as he got up.

While referees were there to keep players from fighting, tension ran high as it seemed a brawl nearly occurred.

After a third consecutive altercation, Ireland switched his #3 jersey for a #20 jersey (likely due to the blood on the jersey) and returned to the court.

Despite these strenuous situations, the Seawolves still held onto a 46-39 lead at 13:30.

With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Ireland, who finished with a team-high 26 points, made a layup to tie the score for the first time in the game.

Following this tying layup, the Seawolves scored two unanswered three-point goals to, once again, distance them from the Lions.

Both teams kept battling but remained within nine points of each other until the clock ran out and read 83-77 Seawolves, earning them fourth place in the 2012 Great Alaska Shootout.

The Seawolves can look to their three-point shooting as to how they nabbed fourth place. They ended 15 of 27 from long-range and got three-point strikes from six different players. The Lions simply could not keep up with the balanced and lethal three-point shooting of the Seawolves.

Check out highlights of the second half.

Listen to the Seawolves post game press conference.

Photo By: Nita Mauigoa

By Keldon Irwin

In game 14 of the Great Alaska Shootout, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves and the Loyola Marymount Lions are competing for fourth and sixth place in the tournament.

In the first four and a half minutes of play, the Seawolves outscored the Lions 12-1.

By 12:15, the Lions had lessened the Seawolves’ lead to 16-13.

While the Seawolves did retain a lead for the entire first half, they played sloppily with seven fouls in the first 10 minutes of play, whereas the Lions only had three.

With the score nearly-tied 23-20 Seawolves at the 7:51 mark, both teams began executing more conservative plays.

Pulling away once again, the Seawolves drew forth a very aggressive man-on-man defense from the Lions in the last five minutes of the first half.

While both teams attempted the same number of shots, the Seawolves made 53.8 percent of those attempts and the Lions only made 26.9 percent of theirs.

Colton Lauwers and Abebe Demissie lead the Seawolves from deep with three and two, respectively. Jalen Little has assisted on six makes and done a good job on defense against the dangerous Anthony Ireland.

Still holding strong, the Seawolves have a 35-29 lead at the end of the first half.

Check out highlights of the first half.