MONARCHS TAME TIGERS, 70-62, TO CLAIM C.P. DEAN TITLE

Cabrini/Clarke Box Score

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA—C.P. Dean Tip-off Classic Most Valuable Player Marcus Hairstom scored a game-high 19 points to lead Methodist College (2-0) to a 70-62 victory over Hampden-Sydney College (1-1) in the tournament championship contest Saturday afternoon.  The loss is the first-ever for Hampden-Sydney in its tip-off tournament, which was started in 1994. 

Hairstom’s 19 points led a trio of Monarchs in double-figures as Seth Thomas scored 13 and Eugene Grant 12.  The Tigers were paced by junior center Aaron Lewek (Raleigh, NC/Leesville Road), who scored a career-high 12 points to go with a career and game-high nine rebounds.  Freshman Drew Prehmus (Atlanta, GA/Wesleyan School) added 11 and senior guard Brian Gunn (Danville, VA/GW Danville) scored ten points. 

The game was close at the onset as the two teams battled to a 16-16 tie midway through the first half, but a three pointer by Eugene Grant and four made free throws by Hairstom over the final four minutes helped give Methodist a five-point advantage at the break, 33-28.  In the second half, the Monarchs used a 10-0 run to build a 14-point advantage, 57-43, with just over six minutes to play, but the Tigers were able to cut the lead to five points, 63-58, on an A.J. Dowell (Roanoke, VA/Salem) three with 48 seconds to play.  Free throws by Grant, Hairstom and Thomas over the final 46 seconds sealed the game for the Monarchs.  

Poor shooting plagued the Tigers as the team connected on just 36 percent (22-62) of its shots from the floor, including just 6-of-32 (19%) from three-point range.  Methodist meanwhile, hit 43 percent (23-53) of its shots from the floor, 33 percent (5-15) from beyond the arc and attempted 13 more free throws than the Tigers, making 19-of-27 from the line. Hampden-Sydney did win the battle on the boards, out-rebounding Methodist, 41-34, but the Tigers had 18 turnovers compared to 15 for the Monarchs. 

In the tournament consolation game, Clarke College (1-1) scored a 90-64 victory over Cabrini College (0-2) to take third-place in the C.P. Dean Tip-off Classic.  Joemi Byrd led the Crusaders with 30 points, while Chris Kolle had 23 thanks to seven trifectas.  Hiraman Byrd added 13 for Clarke, while Sam Murley had 11 to give the Crusaders four players in double figures. 

Cabrini was paced by Randy Reid’s ten points, while Anthony Bennett added nine points.  Clarke shot 46 percent (30-65) from the floor, 41 percent (13-32) from beyond the arc and 85 percent (17-20) at the line, while Cabrini shot 43 percent (20-47) from the floor, 23 percent (3-13) from three point range and 62 percent (21-34) at the line, while out-rebounding the Crusaders, 36-35. 

Joining Methodist’s Hairstom, Thomas and Grant on the C.P. Dean All-Classic Team were Aaron Lewek and Brian Gunn from Hampden-Sydney and Joemi Byrd from Clarke College.