Elms College, Springfield Advance To Blazer Tip-Off Tournament Championship Game
ELMS COLLEGE, SPRINGFIELD
ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF
THE 2008 BLAZER TIP-OFF MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Click here for directions to Elms College
Saturday, November 15
Elms College defeats Regis, 83-66 Box score
Springfield defeats Castleton, 71-61 Box score
Sunday, November 16
2:00 p.m. Consolation
Game: Regis vs. Castleton
4:00 p.m. Championship Game: Elms College vs. Springfield
* - An award ceremony will follow immediately following the
conclusion of the
championship game.
CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 15, 2008 - Elms College junior guard Juan Galdon (Holyoke, MA) poured in a game-high 20 points and three players reached double figures to help the 25th-ranked Blazers pull away to an 83-66 non-conference men's basketball win over Regis College in the first round of the 2008 Blazer Tip-Off Tournament at the Maguire Center.
With the win, Elms College advances to face Springfield College in the championship game on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Springfield fought off a tenacious effort by Castleton State to
earn a 71-61 win in Saturday's other first round game.
In Springfield's victory, junior guard Ryan Blackmon
(Stamford, CT) led all scorers with 23 points and the
Pride had four players reach double figures.
ELMS COLLEGE 83, REGIS 66
Galdon shot 6 of 12 for the field en route to his game-high total, junior forward Austin Sylvia (Seekonk, MA) connected on 7 of 11 shooting for 14 points and sophomore guard Dan Gonzalez (East Windsor, CT) added 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting as the third player to reach double figures for Elms College.
Although the Blazers, ranked 25th in the D3hoops.com Top 25 preseason poll, built a 22-12 lead midway through the first half, Regis roared back with a 11-1 run over the next 4:21 to knot the game at 23-all.
Senior guard Aswad Thomas (Hartford, CT), senior forward Malakie Berry (Enfield, CT) and Gonzalez answered with layups on the ensuing three possessions for the Blazers, who closed out the half with a 19-8 run to extend their lead to 42-31 at intermission.
Galdon knocked down a 3-pointer five seconds into the second half, then added a layup 71 seconds later to key a 7-1 run over the first 1:37 of the second half that gave the Blazers what proved to be an insurmountable 49-33 advantage.
Sophomore guard Derrick Neal (Boston, MA) dropped in a team-high 19 points, including 15 in the first half for Regis, which committed 39 turnovers.
The Blazers, who committed 26 turnovers of their own, still outscored the Pride 44-18 in points off turnovers.
Thomas was outstanding at the point for Elms College, as he handed out a game-high 10 assists and registered a game-high 11 steals.
SPRINGFIELD 71, CASTLETON 61
Springfield appeared well on its way to an easy victory, as it raced out to a 19-2 lead just 4:38 into the game.
Castleton, however, chipped away at the deficit and used a 21-7 run over the next 9:22 to pull to within 26-23.
From there, the Pride led by eight just once more in the final five minute of the first half and clung to a 35-31 lead at intermission.
Springfield led 48-38 with 15:39 remaining, but Castleton freshman guard Mat Roulier (Carver, MA) caught fire, as he connected for a pair of 3-pointers as part of a 13-5 run that pulled the Spartans to within 53-51.
That's as close as Castleton would get, however, as Springfield closed the game on an 18-10 run to seal the victory.
Junior forward Pat Crean (Sleepy Hollow, NY) scored 13 points and added four assists, senior guard Danny White (Melrose, NY) dropped in 11 points and 6-7 senior center John Strawson (Torrington, CT) registered 10 points to all reach double figures for the Pride.
Strawson also added a game-high 18 rebounds for Springfield, which owned a commanding 53-34 advantage off the glass, including 22-10 on the offensive end.
Sophomore guard Seth Harrington (North Bennington, VT) netted a team-high 18 points, while freshman forward Steve Velazquez (Hauppauge, NY) and sophomore forward Marcus Haas (East Montpelier, VT) added 12 points apiece for the Spartans.
Haas also finished with 12 rebounds as the only player to register a double-double for Castleton in the loss.