Jan. 3, 2007

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Seton Hill (5-5) cruised to a 94-70 win over Western Connecticut (8-4) State in the Championship Final of the 40th Annual S. Woodrow Sponaugle Collegiate Classic. Franklin & Marshall (4-7), hosts of the tournament, fell 64-43 in the consolation game to Lincoln (Pa.) (8-4).

An 11-2 Lincoln run early in the second half turned what was a two-point game at the half into a ten-point differential in favor of the Lions. Dwight Dean fueled the Lions' surge with dunks on back-to-back possessions, scoring four of his eight points in the game 22 seconds apart. Franklin & Marshall was never closer than ten points inside of the last ten minutes.

Three players scored in double-figures for the Lions. All-Tournament selection Ja'Juan Robinson accounted for a game-high 14 points to go with nine rebounds. Thomas Lahart scored 12 while Barry Jenifer added 11. Dean had 10 rebounds to go with his eight-points.

F&M's All-Tournament selection, Bryan Teschke, scored a team-high of eight points and led all rebounders with 12. Derek Hines managed eight rebounds for the Diplomats. The loss was the third in as many outings for Franklin & Marshall. Their slate doesn't get any easier as the Diplomats return to Conference play at Ursinus on Saturday.

Seton Hill needed only six-and-half minutes to build a ten-point edge on Western Connecticut in the Championship Final. The Griffins' lead remained in double figures for the final 31:01 of the game. Seton Hill dominated the paint outscoring Western Connecticut 64-30 on the inside.

Seton Hill's Zarko Kostic was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player having scored 12 points this evening to go along with his 26-point effort in the semifinal victory over Lincoln. Marcus Thompson, who scored a game-high 17-points also represented Seton Hill on the all-tourney squad.

Western Connecticut's all-tourney choice, Carlos Pellot, scored ten points. He posted 14 points in Tuesday's win over Franklin & Marshall. Jamie Procino led the Colonials in scoring in the loss to Seton Hill with 14 points.

All-Tournament Team
Bryan Teschke, Franklin & Marshall
Ja'Juan Robinson, Lincoln
Carlos Pellot, Western Connecticut
Marcus Thompson, Seton Hill
Zarko Kostic, Seton Hill - MVP