The REPORTER
University’s boys split a pair of games Saturday to place seventh in the 2023 Lebanon Holiday Classic.
The Trailblazers dropped a 57-49 contest to Indianapolis Metropolitan in the morning session before storming back to beat Faith Christian 91-80 in the afternoon.
University used a 33-point second quarter to break open a close game against Faith Christian. Blake Gray led the way with 27 points for the Blazers while coming up with a team high seven steals and handing out six assists. Montgomery Holland had 20 points and five rebounds while Blake Gray had 19 points, including 15 in the decisive second quarter. Robert Russell gave the Blazers four in double figures with a 12-point game.
The Trailblazers jumped out to an early 6-2 lead against the Eagles behind three pointers from Russell and Bryce Gray. The Eagles scored to next nine points to take an 11-6 lead before Holland tied the game on a rebound basket and a three-point play. University turned up the pressure and Bryce Gray put the Blazers on top 13-11 scoring after Holland came up with a steal. Bryce Gray then had a steal of his own and converted it into another three-point play. Max McCabe had a steal and fed Russell for a bucket to complete University’s 12-0 run in 100 seconds and an 18-11 lead. The Blazers led 20-15 after the first.
University led 25-23 two minutes into the second quarter before Blake Gray ignited a 14-2 spurt with a three pointer from the left corner. Faisal Mohamud had a steal that led to Blake Gray’s three-point play. Blake Gray added another three-pointer from the left corner before coming up with a steal and converting yet another three-point play. Jackson Bledsoe finished the run with a bucket following a McCabe steal. Russell scored the last seven points of the first half including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send University to the locker room with a 53-30 advantage.
University’s lead reached 65-37 midway through the third quarter and the Blazers led 69-48 at the end of the third. McComb and Bryce Gray each had six points in the period.
University led 78-53 with 5:15 left in the game before Faith Christian mounted a furious rally cutting the lead to 81-72 with 2:09 left but the Eagles were not able to get closer than seven points the rest of the way as University made enough free throws to secure the win.
The morning session saw the Blazers struggle to convert shots, making just 1 of 15 three-point shots. The teams were tied at 15 after the opening period, but University scored just two points in the second quarter to fall behind 24-17 at halftime.
The Pumas extended their lead to 44-32 early in the fourth quarter. University began to chip away pulling with 44-40 on a pair of Bryce Gray free throws with 4:54 left. Metropolitan got the lead back to either before University came back again, cutting the lead to 49-46 with 2:11 left on a McComb steal and basket. That was as close as the Blazers would get as the Pumas went 9 for 12 at the foul line in the fourth quarter.
McComb and Bryce Gray led University in scoring with 11 points each. Holland had 10 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
University stands 4-6 on the season. The Blazers will host Indianapolis Scecina Thursday night at The U Center.
METROPOLITAN 57, UNIVERSITY 49
University FG FT TP PF
Bryce Gray 2-9 6-6 11 2
Blake Gray 3-9 0-0 6 0
Max McComb 4-12 3-6 11 5
Robert Russell 3-8 0-0 6 1
Cooper Cammack 1-1 0-0 2 4
Jackson Bledsoe 1-4 1-2 3 1
Zien Bland 0-1 0-0 0 0
Montgomery Holland 5-11 0-1 10 4
Totals 19-55 10-15 49 17
Score by Quarters
Metropolitan 15 9 18 15 – 57
University 15 2 15 17 – 49
University 3-point shooting (1-15) Br. Gray 1-6, Bl. Gray 0-4, McComb 0-4, Holland 0-1.
University rebounds (27) Holland 11, Cammack 5, McComb 4, Br. Gray 3, Bledsoe 2, B. Gray 1, Russell 1.
UNIVERSITY 91, FAITH CHRISTIAN 80
University FG FT TP PF
Bryce Gray 10-17 4-5 27 2
Max McComb 2-8 2-4 7 3
Robert Russell 5-11 0-3 12 1
Montgomery Holland 8-9 3-7 20 4
Cooper Cammack 0-3 0-0 0 3
Jackson Bledsoe 1-4 0-0 2 2
Blake Gray 7-12 3-4 19 2
Zien Bland 1-3 0-0 2 0
Faisal Moahmud 1-3 0-0 2 0
Jalen Scott 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 35-71 12-23 91 17
Score by Quarters
Faith Christian 17 13 18 32 – 80
University 20 33 16 22 – 91
University 3-point shooting (9-22) Br. Gray 3-8, Bl. Gray 2-5, Russell 2-3, McComb 1-3, Holland 1-1, Bland 0-1, Mohamud 0-1.
University rebounds (26) Cammack 7, Holland 5, Br. Gray 3, McComb 3, Russell 3, Mohamud 2, Scott 2, Bl. Gray 1.