BYU center Keba Keita blocks a shot from Miami leading scorer Malik Reneau as the Cougars carried a 72-62 victory over the Hurricanes. Photo courtesy of BYU Athletics.
Magic Bracket @ ESPN Events Invitational
Brigham Young 72, Miami 62
Cougars Seized Control when … Miami took a 33-29 halftime lead and still led 40-39 with 16:05 remaining in the game. Kennard Davis, Jr. scored five points in a 10-0 run that saw the Cougars improve their lead on his layup with 14:16 remaining. Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa made five free throws to give BYU a 59-45 lead with 6:52 remaining.
Player of the Game: AJ Dybantsa only made 2-of-8 shots in the first half in scoring four points, but Miami immediately felt his presence in the second half as he scored 12 of his 16 points in helping to rally the Cougars. Kennard Davis, Jr. led the Cougars with 18 points while Robert Wright, III, scored 17 with four triples. Coach Kevin Young has established a nine-man rotation that features the dynamics and connectivity that allow both players to flourish inside of a fast-paced offense that averages 15.6 seconds per possession.
Key Statistics: Miami first-year head coach Jai Lucas also used the portal to create an excellent rotation that features former Indiana Hoosier Malik Reneau, Former Michigan/Auburn guard Tre Donaldson, and former New Mexico shooting guard Tru Washington. Young’s 6-6, 240 freshman Shelton Henderson, who scored 118. ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 2.3 assists per game. The Hurricanes led for most of the first half with 8-0 and 9-2 runs that erased close deficits. They had a tough night in making only 7-of-17 free throws, but Miami was excellent in the paint with a 34-24 advantage, and the ‘Canes scored 18 points off of 15 offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, BYU blocked eight shots and had seven steals in holding Miami to just 33.3 percent from the field.
Dayton 84, Georgetown 79 – OT
Flyers Seized Control when … Dayton took a 67-53 lead with 5:47 remaining on an offensive stickback by 7-1 French center Amael L’Etang. Georgetown used a 16-2 run to push this game into overtime as the Hoyas scored five points each from Malik Mack and Robert Wright, Jr. to force five more minutes. After Georgetown guard KJ Lewis hit a three off the right wing, Dayton enjoyed a pair of threes from Bryce Heard, and Javon Bennett built around two free throws by Jordan Derkack to give the Flyers a 77-72 lead with 2:01 remaining. Derkack, Deonte Jones, and Jaiun Simon combined for 5-of-6 free throws to close the game for the Flyers.
Player(s) of the Game: L’Etang and Derkack gave the Flyers a huge push in the clutch as Derkack made five free throws in overtime and L’Etang, who at 7-1, is a three-point threat, as his activity inside has allowed him to be coach Anthony Grant’s leading scorer and rebounder. He had 10 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. It was a multiple effort for the Flyers, who had five players score in double figures as Dayton’s leading scorer, Javon Bennett (16.7 ppg), was held to 4-of-19 from the floor and 13 points.
Key Statistics: Georgetown was led by 24 points from guard Malik Mack, who also netted 44 minutes. Arizona transfer KJ Lewis and 6-11 center Julius Halaifouna scored 16 points with seven rebounds. Mack is a talented point guard who can see the floor and evaluate well to set up his teammates, work as a cutter in the half-court, and use his turnaround spin move in the mid-range game. For Dayton, Bryce Heard is active inside the offense as he looks for his shots and evaluates the defensive situations in front of him.
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Furman 73, Richmond 72
Paladins Seized Control when … Furman had a defensive stop and a blocked shot in the last ten seconds to preserve a tough win over the Richmond Spiders. Forward Asa Thomas had a blocked shot with 11 seconds remaining before Richmond center Mike Walz missed a jumper with two seconds left in the game. The Paladins had to post a massive defensive stand when freshman guard Alex Wilkens scored their last basket at 3:06 to give Furman a 73-65 lead. Furman had five turnovers on its five possessions.
Player of the Game: Freshman Alex Wilkins scored his 26 points as he made 10-of-19 shots, including eight points in the last 6:32 of the game. Wilkins is turning into a leader of the team as he reads defenses well as Saturday was his sixth game as a Paladin. He knows when to penetrate and find Asa Thomas in the offense when he can spot up for threes. Thomas finished with 20 points
Key Statistics: Paladins 6-11 center Cooper Bowser finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 35 minutes for Coach Bob Richey. Furman shot 57 percent and scored 18 points off of 17 Spiders turnovers. Richmond trailed 60-49 with 9:38 to play, but a quick 8-0 run that featured four free throws from Mikkel Tyne pushed the deficit back to 60-57. Jaden Daughtry led the Spiders with 12 points, but Richmond’s leading scorer, Aiden Argabright, was held to only three points and only four shots from the floor.
Illinois State 79, Charlotte 69
Redbirds seized control when … ISU used a 17-8 run over the game’s first 5:30 when Ty’Reek Coleman, Johnny Kinzinger, and Ty Pence knocked down three triples. The Redbirds extended the lead in the second half to 54-39 when Boden Skunberg scored six points in an 8-2 run. The 49ers could get no closer than. seven when Arden Conyers netted a three-pointer from the top of the key to cut the Illinois State lead to 72-65 with 1:31 remaining.
Player of the Game: Boden Skunberg scored 22 points and 1o rebounds as he enjoyed a double-double in the win. Freshman shooting guard Ty’Reek Coleman also fits into the discussion with his 13 points, as he and Johnny Kinzinger do an excellent job of running this offense, with variations that can set up any player who might have an advantage in the system.
Statistics: Power Forward Chase Walker was an early option in both halves as Coach Ryan Pedon finds ways to get the 6-11 big man the basketball inside the lane. He finished with 10 points and was a worker and a leader inside for the Redbirds, who hustle repeatedly on each possession. He is a tough matchup with his size as he scored 18 points, netting 10-0f-12 free throws. Charlotte guard Ben Bradford led all scorers with 23 points as he made 9-of-13 shots from the floor. Bradford is an excellent decision-maker off the dribble which helps him to be Charlotte’s scoring leader in averaging 16.2 ppg.