The REPORTER
A short-handed University boys team overcame a frigid first quarter shooting performance to score a 72-56 win over Anderson Preparatory Academy Friday night.
The win allowed University to close out a perfect 4-0 season in the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference North division and was the Blazers 34th consecutive PAAC North win.
Sophomore Blake Gray led the Blazers with 22 points while junior Max McComb scored 21 points and had a team high 11 rebounds.
University shot just 3 of 18 in the first quarter, missing its first 10 three-point attempts. The Blazers fell behind 11-4 before Blake Gray hit a three pointer with 41 seconds left in the quarter to cut the Jets lead to 11-7 at the break.
The Blazers got the offense cooking in the second quarter outscoring the Jets 24-8. Zien Bland got it started scoring after Joe Rozembajgier pulled down an offensive rebound and set up Bland. Gray hit another three pointer before McComb tied the score at 15 with his first three pointer. McComb’s triple started a 17-2 Trailblazer run.
Robert Russell put University on top to stay with a rebound basket. Bland added a pair of foul shots before Blake Gray hit another three pointer. Bryce Gray drove the lane for a basket before stealing the ball and scoring on a lay in for a 26-17 lead. McComb split a pair of free throws before Blake Gray had another steal and lay-in to make it 29-17. After a Jets bucket with nine seconds left McComb drove the length of the floor to score with three seconds left to send the Blazers to the locker room up 31-19.
University came out hot in the third quarter stretching their lead to 49-33 with 3:26 left in the period. Bryce Gray made a three pointer before McComb hit three straight triples. The Jets went on a run to get within 53-45 at the end of the third quarter. McComb scored 11 in the third quarter.
Anderson Prep opened the fourth quarter with the ball, however the Jets were whistled for a technical for too many players on the court. Russell made the two technical foul shots and Bryce Gray made another three pointer to restore a 58-45 lead and University held at least a nine point lead the rest of the way. Blake Gray had 11 in the final stanza while Russell went a perfect four-for-four at the charity stripe.
Russell finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Bryce Gray had nine points and Bland had six points and nine rebounds. Rozembajgier played solid minutes off the bench pulling down four rebounds.
University improves to 8-6 on the season while the Jets fall to 4-11. The Trailblazers host Bishop Chatard Tuesday night at The U Center. University’s game with Indianapolis Lutheran, originally scheduled for tonight, has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 8.
UNIVERSITY 72, ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY 56
University FG FT TP PF
Bryce Gray 4-13 0-2 9 4
Blake Gray 9-16 0-0 22 0
Zien Bland 1-6 4-6 6 0
Max McComb 8-16 1-2 21 2
Robert Russell 4-12 6-6 14 2
Joe Rozembajgier 0-1 0-0 0 2
D.J. Willis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 26-64 11-16 72 10
Score by Quarters
University 7 24 22 19 – 72
Anderson Prep 11 8 26 11 – 56
University 3-point shooting (9-32) McComb 4-11, Bl. Gray 4-8, Br. Gray 1-7, Russell 0-4, Bland 0-2.
University rebounds 36) McComb 11, Bland 9, Russell 7, Rozembajgier 4, Br. Gray 2, Bl. Gray 2, Willis 1.