Salem, Va. – Sophomore guard Nick LaGuerre (Baltimore, Md./Lansdowne) exploded for 36 career-high points in helping the No. 16 St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team open up 2013 with a dominating win at the first day of the Morris Cregger New Year's Invitational hosted by Roanoke College Tuesday afternoon.
The Seahawks (11-1), who have won 11 straight since a season-opening loss on November 17, posted a 99-69 non-conference win over Huntingdon College. St. Mary's will now face host Roanoke, a 96-76 winner over William Peace College, in tomorrow's championship game at 3:00 pm.
LaGuerre only missed four shots as he finished the game 14-of-18 from the field, including connecting on 5-of-8 from downtown. Along with his career-best 36 points in 36 minutes, LaGuerre notched career-highs of seven assists, five steals and five three-pointers.
Sophomore center MacGyver Biniak (Elkridge, Md./Howard) and junior guard Brendan McFall (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) each tallied 12 points for the Seahawks. It was a career-high for Biniak while McFall dished out a career-best four assists.
The Seahawks owned a 50-31 halftime advantage after McFall sparked a 22-5 tear over a seven-minute span and LaGuerre capped the run to put the team ahead 47-27 with 1:18 remaining in the first half. LaGuerre left the competition in the dust in the first 20 points as he finished with 20 points while Biniak chipped in 10.
St. Mary's shot 61.3% from the floor in the second stanza alone, including making 7-of-13 from behind the three-point arc after only firing two in the first half. Huntingdon (3-9) was able to cut the 19-point halftime deficit to 56-47 in the first four minutes but could not get any closer the rest of the way.
For the game, the Seahawks posted a 38-32 rebounding margin as junior guard Donn Hill (Aberdeen, Md./Bel Air), Biniak and McFall each brought down a game-best six boards. Senior guard Devin Spencer (Baltimore, Md./Towson Catholic) helped the team finish with 26 assists as Spencer notched eight helpers.
Forwards Austin Hill (Montgomery, Ala.) and Jeremiah Thomas (Wadley, Ala.) paced the Huntingdon Hawks with 12 points each.
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