COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado College utilized its balance and depth to defeat George Fox University, 98-90, in the championship game of the 2014 CC Tip-Off Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Reid Gymnasium.

Senior forward Chris Lesnansky, who was named MVP of the two-day event, scored a team-high 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists.

Junior guard Luke Winfield added 21 points and nine rebounds, and was named to the all-tournament team.

Junior forward James Lonergan recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while junior guard Justin Berardino added 14 points. 

"The offense is more balanced," head coach Andy Partee said. "Last year it was Chris Lesnansky and Ryan Milne. Now we have guys in the junior class – Luke Winfield, James Lonergan, Justin Berardino – who can score double-digit points night in and night out."

Winfield scored 10 points during a 23-7 run that gave the Tigers a 77-60 advantage with midway through the second half.

The Bruins cut their deficit to 10 on a layup by sophomore guard J.J. Lacey with 6:38 to play, but CC answered with nine consecutive points to take its largest lead at 91-72.

Trailing 96-77 with three minutes play, GFU scored 13 of the next 14 points to pull to within seven with 1:12 remaining, but the Tigers brought their starters back into the contest to run out the clock.

Lacy, who was named to the all-invitational team, paced the Bruins with 23 points.

Senior guard Jonny Howard finished with 19 points, while freshman guard Thomas Rico scored all 15 of his points from behind the arc on five-for-eight shooting.    

"Our confidence is high," Partee said. "The guys are starting to recognize how deep we are and how good we can be. We can wear opponents down with our style of play and break close games open in the second half. We're beginning to see the fruits of our labor with our full-court pressure."

In Sunday's third-place game, senior guard Luke Yeager poured in 36 points to lead Grinnell College to a 136-112 victory over Blackburn College. Senior guard Jack Taylor added 22 more and earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

Sophomore guard Chris J. Davis, who also was an all-invitational selection, led the Beavers with 23

Colorado College plays a pair of road games at CU-Colorado Springs next week. The Tigers face Fort Lewis College on Friday at 5:30 p.m., and then UCCS on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.