The Bob Jones University men's basketball team concluded their time at the NCCAA National Tournament with a 79-71 loss to #5 Grace Christian University Saturday afternoon. With today's loss the Bruins wrap up their season with a 15-8 season record.
The Bruins entered today's contest after pulling out an overtime win on Friday against #6 Campbellsville University Harrodsburg set to face off against the Tigers out of Grace Christian University. The Bruins and Tigers met exactly one year ago at the national tournament where the Bruins finished ahead with a big 82-68 victory.
As today's consolation bracket game got underway, the Tigers opened the scoring with a three-point bucket before a layup by Braxton Murray put the Bruins on the board. The two programs kept the score close through most of the first half. Brandon Wilkins got on the score sheet with seven minutes left in the first half to knot the game at 25 points apiece. Grace Christian then went on a seven point run to regain the lead before Trevor Pittman's jumper broke the streak.
As the buzzer sounded at the end of the first 20 minutes of play, the Bruins found themselves trailing 37-29.
After Shad Vander Hart opened the second half with an early layup, Tostadas Pouncey stole the ball and gave it to Vander Hart who came in with a big dunk to bring the Bruins within four points of the Tigers. Grace Christian soon increased their lead again, and the Bruins struggled to cut at the deficit. At the conclusion of Saturday's game, the Bruins fell to the Tigers 79-71.
Each player hit the court today with Vander Hart leading all players with 23 points and seven rebounds. Trevor Brunson was close behind with 17 points and seven rebounds in his final game as a Bruin. Seniors Devin Pope and Devin Dean each finished with double digit points as well.
The team was nearly perfect from the free throw line shooting 90%, but struggled from outside the arc going 3-19, and were 36% from the field.
"I'm forever thankful for the players God has brought to our program," said Head Coach Burton Uwarow. "We graduated some of the most accomplished players in Bruins history last year and, on paper, probably didn't look like we were going to accomplish a whole lot. Instead, this team produced 10 players on either the Dean's list or President's list and won another championship."
He continued saying, "as far as our game today was concerned, we just looked like we ran out of gas. The emotions of Thursday and the overtime on Friday really took the wind out of our sails. I always judge a season's success on whether or not we accomplished what we should have with our ability. I do think we came as close to reaching our potential as we could have. I'm really proud of our five seniors and how they played at this tournament. We are going to be really young next year, and I am glad that the younger guys have had a chance to play against the best teams in the country."
