The 61st Annual Lee Fulmer Memorial Men’s Basketball
Tournament tipped off on Thursday with four games taking place in
Currier Gym. Compared to last year’s event, which included
six of the same teams, the results were totally different and
create an exciting second day of action.
Game one: Whitworth vs. Cal State
East Bay
After earning a 12-point lead late in the game, the #15 Pirates of
Whitworth University (WA) held off an impressive final-minute surge
by the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay to capture an exciting 85-80
victory in the first game of the tournament. For the Pirates, Nate
Montgomery posted a career-high 26 points and nabbed seven
rebounds, while Calvin Jurich added 17 points. Tauran Moore came
off of the bench to score 31 points, including six three-pointers,
for the Pioneers. With the win, Whitworth now faces
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in Friday’s 6 p.m. game. Cal
State East Bay takes on Southwestern College (AZ) at 2
p.m.
Game two: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps vs.
Southwestern
In game two of Thursday’s match-ups, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
built an 18-point lead in the first half to coast to a comfortable
75-48 victory over Southwestern College. Conner Faught led the
Stags with 17 points in only 12 minutes of action, scoring off of
five three-pointers. Going 5-for-8, Daniel Hann paced the Eagles of
Southwestern with 13 points. CMS takes on #15 Whitworth at 6 p.m.
on Friday, while Southwestern and Cal State East Bay square off in
the 2 p.m. game.
Game three: Whitman vs. Chapman
Following a slow start, Whitman College (WA) mounted an
11-point comeback early in the second half to eventually surge past
Chapman University for the 80-71 victory in Thursday’s third
game. Riding a 55-point explosion in the second half, the
Missionaries improved their overall shooting percentage from 20.6%
in the first period to 57.1% during the second. Going 22-for-27
from the charity stripe also helped Whitman’s cause. Graham
Brewer racked up a game-high 19 points off of the bench, while
Chris Faidley chipped in 16 for the Missionaries. Chapman boasted
five players in double figures with Dan Aquilar leading the team
with 12 points and eight assists. Whitman now faces UC Santa Cruz
at 8 p.m. on Friday while Chapman heads to the Consolation Bracket
for a 4 p.m. game against the University of Redlands.
Game four: Redlands vs. UC Santa
Cruz
In the final game on Thursday, UC Santa Cruz stunned the Redlands
Bulldogs and came away with a 77-68 victory. Despite trailing 2-13
in the opening minutes, Redlands mounted a comeback late in the
first half to enter the break down by one. But Santa Cruz shot
61.9% from the floor in the second half to turn away the
Bulldogs’ efforts. Ryan Matsuoka’s 22 points paced the
Banana Slugs while Niel Brennan added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Matt Dietrich came up with 23 points and seven boards to lead the
Bulldogs. UC Santa Cruz takes on Whitman in Friday’s feature
game at 8 p.m., while Redlands and Chapman square off in a familiar
match-up at 4 p.m.
