Nov. 26, 2008

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - No. 3 Bentley University defeated University of Southern Indiana on a last second shot to win Group Learning, while in the battle of unbeaten, No. 4 Florida Southern defeated the University of Minnesota-Duluth to win Group Sportsmanship on the final day of competition at the 2008 Disney's Division II Men's Tip-Off Classic. The annual pre-season basketball tournament sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association with the support of NCAA Division II and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) is held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.

After having their NCAA Division II record 55-game regular season win streak snapped versus Saint Martin's University the night before, Bentley University (2-1) came back to defeat the University of Southern Indiana, 56-54, to win the Group Learning title. Jason Westrol recorded 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to lead the Falcons and Brian Tracey came off the bench to contribute 14. The first half was a battle of runs as USI recorded 12 of the first 16 points of the game to take the early eight-point lead. The Falcons went on a 13-2 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Screaming Eagles closed the half with a run of their own scoring 17 of the final 20 points to take an 11-point lead (31-20) into intermission. Bentley showed why they are the No. 3 team in the country by chipping away at the USI lead. Trailing by 12 (47-35) with 9:36 left in the game, the Falcons went on a 17-4 run to take their first lead (52-51) since the 6:08 mark in the first half. After a Westrol free throw with 46 seconds left in the game to tie the score at 54-54, the Eagle's Pimple turned the ball over with 13 seconds left. With one second left in the game, Bentley set up an out-of-bounds play under the basket that left Westrol wide open for the lay-up and one-point win. Anthony Pimple led the Screaming Eagles (1-2) with 20 points and Marvin Gray contributed with 13.

With their 88-79 victory over Saint Martin's University, No. 8 Minnesota State - Mankato secured second place for Group Learning. Jake Morrow recorded 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to lead five Maverick (2-1) players in double figures. Travis Nelson added 15 points and Mitch Gosson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Jake Linton followed up back-to-back 29-point efforts with 21 points to lead the Saints (1-2) and Bill Richarson recorded the double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Westrol was named the Most Outstanding Player in Group Learning and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Brian Tracey (Bentley University), Jake Morrow (Minnesota State University), Anthony Pimple (Southern Indiana) and Jake Linton (Saint Martin's University).

In Group Sportsmanship, led by the division's Most Outstanding Player, Rob Eldridge, No. 4 Florida Southern (3-0) defeated the University of Minnesota-Duluth, 77-69, to clinch the title. Eldridge recorded a game-high 19 points and Rion Rayfield added 18. Rashaad Singleton contributed with nine points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Singleton set a tournament record with 17 blocks during the three games.

With the score tied 10-10 at the 14:32 mark, Minnesota - Duluth went on an 18-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 16-point lead (28-12) and held off a Moccasins rally to take an 11-point lead (40-29) into halftime. Trailing by nine points (56-47) midway in the second half, led by Singleton (seven points) and Eldridge (six points) Florida Southern scored 18 of the next 22 points to take a 65-60 lead with 3:29 left in the game. The Bulldogs tightened the lead to three, but could not get closer as the Moccasins cruised to the win. Brian Sykora led the Bulldogs (2-1) with 18 points, while Ryan Rasmussen came off the bench to contribute with 13 points.

After suffering a 15-point loss to No. 4 Florida Southern the previous night, the University of Montevallo rebounded to defeat Lees-McRae College, 81-62, in the third place game for Group Sportsmanship. Anthony Brown scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half to lead five Montevallo (1-2) players in double figures. Nate Flowers recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Marcus Lancaster contributed with 13 points.

Montevallo started the scoring with a Marcus Lancaster lay-up, but Lees - McRae came back to score nine straight points led by two three-pointers by Aaron Woodacre (six points). The Falcons trimmed the lead to 13-12, but Bobcats recorded 12 of the next 14 points to extend their lead to 11 (25-14) with 7:24 left in the half. Montevallo came back with a 16-4 run to take a 30-29 lead and cruise into intermission with a two-point advantage. The Falcons would not give up the lead again as they led by as many as 22 points in the second half coasting to the 19-point win. Nick DeSchepper led the Bobcats (0-3) with 20 points and Woodacre contributed with 12.

Joining Eldridge on the All-Tournament Team for Group Sportsmanship was Rashaad Singleton (Florida Southern), Brian Sykora (Minnesota-Duluth), Nate Flowers (University of Montevallo) and Aaron Woodacre (Lees-McRae College).

Tournament Records Broke/Tied

Individual

Tournament

Blocked Shots: 17, Rashaad Singleton, Florida Southern

Fouls: 14, Lew Finnegan, Bentley University

Team

Single Game

3FG Pct.: .667, University of Minnesota-Duluth (10-15) 11-07-08

Tournament

Blocked Shots: 26, Southern Indiana

Turnovers (Fewest): 33, University of Montevallo

2008 Tournament Results

Day 1 - Round Robin Play

Group Learning

University of Southern Indiana 99, Saint Martin's University 95

Bentley University 91, Minnesota State University-Mankato 84

Group Sportsmanship

University of Minnesota-Duluth 77, University of Montevallo 75

Florida Southern College 99, Lees-McRae College 75

Day 2 - Round Robin Play

Group Learning

Saint Martin's University 87, Bentley University 77

Minnesota State University-Mankato 68, University of Southern Indiana 60

Group Sportsmanship

University of Minnesota-Duluth 81, Lees-McRae College 72

Florida Southern College 73, University of Montevallo 58

Day 3 - Round Robin Play

Group Learning

Minnesota State University-Mankato 88, Saint Martin's University 79

Bentley University 56, University of Southern Indiana 54

Group Sportsmanship

University of Montevallo 81, Lees-McRae College 62

Florida Southern College 77, University of Minnesota-Duluth 69

2008 All-Tournament Team:

Group Learning:Jason Westrol (Bentley University); Brian Tracey (Bentley University); Jake Morrow (Minnesota State University); Anthony Pimple (Southern Indiana); Jake Linton (Saint Martin's University)

Group Sportsmanship:Rob Eldridge (Florida Southern); Rashaad Singleton (Florida Southern); Brian Sykora (Minnesota-Duluth); Nate Flowers (University of Montevallo); Aaron Woodacre (Lees-McRae College)

Italics denotes Group Most Outstanding Player

Disney's Division II Men's Tip-Off Classic Championship Games:

2008: Bentley University (2-1) - Group Learning*; Florida Southern (3-0) - Group Sportsmanship*

2007: Grand Valley State University (3-0) - Group Dedication*; Winona State (3-0) - Group Teamwork*

2006: UW-Parkside (3-0) - Group Strength*; Southern Indiana (3-0) - Group Power*

2005: University of North Dakota 78, Regis 70

2004: Bentley (MA) 63, Wisconsin-Parkside 60

2003: Drury (MO) University (3-0)*

2002: North Dakota St. 84, Bentley 73

2001: South Dakota State 106, Southern Indiana 104

2000: Delta State 81, North Dakota State 80

1999: St. Rose 67, Columbus State 55

1998: Francis Marion 69, Bentley 68

1997: St. Rose 69, Delta State 57

* round-robin play format