Box Score
Despite battling back at several points throughout the game, the Bob Jones University Bruins basketball team couldn't overtake #4 seeded Randall University as the team fell 90-73 in the quarterfinals of the NCCAA DII National Tournament. Marshall Riddle led the Bruins with 25 points in the loss.
"We credit Randall and their staff as they played with a veteran poise that we just didn't have," Bruins Head Coach Neal Ring said. "We played at times tonight like it was our first time at a national tournament. I thought our game plan was solid and I am proud of my guys for continuing to battle to the end."
The Bruins came into the game on the heels of their first NCCAA DII South Region Championship earning them the #5 seed for the National Tournament. Their opponent would be the #4 seeded Saints who entered the tournament as the defending DII National Champion. The Saints were led this season by two-time national player of the year Trey Sneed, but it was another RU player who would steal the show on Thursday night as guard Xavier Hunter finished with 37 points in the win.
From the opening tip, the Bruins jumped out to an early lead as Marshall Riddle scored back to back buckets to help BJU take a 7-0 lead. But the Saints weren't about to go down that easily as they came roaring back to even the score. From there, both teams traded baskets as neither was able to gain a sizeable lead. With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Xavier Hunter knocked down a three-point shot to help spark a 12-2 run for the Saints as they took a double-digit lead. Marshall Riddle helped to narrow the gap with two straight baskets as the Bruins trailed 39-32 at the break.
In the second half, Hunter again provided the spark for the Saints as he scored on a fast break and knocked down another three-point bomb to put Randall up 46-36. The Saints continued to maintain their advantage as they held the Bruins at bay. The Bruins began to chip away at the lead behind the post play of Jayson Barnhart and Quez Fisher as they scored around the rim pushing the Bruins closer to drawing even. Dustin Killough continued the rally as he scored a three and then followed it up with another jumper as the Bruins had clawed their way back to trail 55-50.
The Saints responded by going on a 17-2 run after a called timeout as they pushed the game back to double digits with just over four minutes remaining. Still, the Bruins continued to battle as they knocked down shots late in the game. But this time, the Saints found an answer for each possession as they continued to keep the lead. As the final buzzer sounded, the Bruins hopes of a national title run were ended as the team fell to Randall University 90-73.
"I challenged our guys that every chance we get to play is another opportunity for us to live Christ," Coach Ring said. "I really felt like we were ready and that we would come away with the win but that just didn't work out for us."
Marshall Riddle led the Bruins with 25 points while Jayson Barnhart scored 13 and Dustin Killough finished with 12. Quez Fisher snagged 15 rebounds in the game to go along with 4 blocked shots and 6 points. With the loss in the quarterfinals, the Bruins were eliminated from championship contention. The team will play in their first consolation game tomorrow afternoon as they battle #8 seeded Moody Bible Institute who fell to #1 seeded Grace Bible College.
