WASHINGTON, D.C. – The championship day of the annual Gallaudet University Holiday Tournament on Sunday was action packed as the Bison's men's basketball team won its contest against Medgar Evers College 63-55 to claim third place. The winner of the tournament was Embry-Riddle University as they defeated Maryland Bible College 90-44 at the Field House.
The contest between the Bison (3-2) and Medgar Evers (2-4) in the consolation game was a back-and-forth battle as both teams frequently switched control of the lead throughout the course of the game. The Bison eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter and closed out the victory as the team made 10 of its final 11 free throw attempts in the second half. GU knocked down 13 of 16 from the charity stripe (81.3 percent). Junior guard Tony Tatum (Gardendale, Ala.) topped the GU scoring with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting along with a team-high seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and the Bison's only block. Tatum was able to corral the rebound on his own block and proceeded to take the rock to the hoop himself for two hard-earned points. His rugged play earned him a spot on the all-tournament team.
The matchups in the paint and points off of turnovers were even throughout but what really stood out was the Bison's scoring off the bench. The team dominated the Cougars 30-4, led by junior forward Layton Seeber (Champaign, Ill.), who also was named to the all-tournament team. Seeber had a solid all-around game off the bench with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and hit both of his free throws, while he connected on a team-high two 3-pointers.
Sophomore forward Danny Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio) added 12 points in the victory, as he shot 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, two rebounds, a three-pointer and an assist. Senior guard Luther Weedon (Walkersville, Md.) contributed nine points, two steals and two rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
The Cougars were led by guard James Gilmore, who posted 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and three 3-pointers. Forward Marlon McGlashin (11 points) connected on three 3-pointers for Medgar Evers, as he added eight rebounds, two assists and a block.
With a 30-26 halftime lead while only shooting 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) on three-point field goals, the Buff and Blue were able to pull away in the second half as they connected on three of their next six shots from behind the arc. On the day, the team shot 26.7 percent (4-of-15) on three-point field goals but was saved by shooting 41.8 percent from within the arc. The Bison split the tournament games and next face Wells College on Saturday, December 4, in Aurora, N.Y., in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) debut for the Buff and Blue.
In the championship game, the Eagles from Daytona Beach, Fla., defeated the Soldiers of Maryland Bible 90-44.The Eagles (7-1), who are currently ranked fifth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), were led by Blake Touchard, who won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Touchard scored 16 points in the championship game, along with six steals, five 3-pointers, two assists and a rebound. Two members of Embry-Riddle also made the all-tournament team in Ray Graham (14 points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds) and Josh Seidel (seven points, three rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer). David Butler contributed a mammoth triple-double in the championship game with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 11 blocked shots and three assists. Mike Holden of Maryland Bible was selected to the all-tournament team as he had eight points, four rebounds, two 3-pointers and an assist.
GU Holiday Tournament
Sunday, Nov. 28
Championship: Embry-Riddle 90, Maryland Bible 44
Consolation: Gallaudet 63, Medgar Evers 55
Saturday, Nov. 27
Maryland Bible 64, Gallaudet 61
Embry-Riddle 87, Medgar Evers 60
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Blake Touchard (Embry-Riddle)
Ray Graham (Embry-Riddle)
Jeff Seidel (Embry-Riddle)
Mike Holden (Maryland Bible)
Layton Seeber (Gallaudet)
Tony Tatum (Gallaudet)