Marietta tops Medaille, 81-59, to win the Case Alumni Association Tip-off Tournament
Rucker named Tournament MVP

Nov. 18, 2006
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Tournament Most Valuable Player Matt Rucker's (Proctorville/Chesapeake) all-around effort propelled the Marietta College men's basketball team to a 81-59 victory over Medaille (N.Y.) in the championship game of the Case Alumni Association Tip-off Tournament Saturday (Nov. 18) afternoon. [Box Score]

The senior captain, fresh off a 13-point and eight-rebound performance in the season opener Friday, finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in the win. It is the first time that the Pioneers (2-0) have won back-to-back games since 2003-04.

Junior forward Matt Phillips (Williamson, W.Va./Tug Valley) joined Rucker on the All-Tournament team. Phillips added 15 points and seven boards Saturday.

The Pioneers also got double-digit afternoons from sophomore guards Isaiah Creasap (Wooster/Northwestern) and Tyler Morando (Wheeling, W.Va./Central Catholic) as well as junior reserve center Adam Rockhold (Olmsted Falls). Creasap hit five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 19 points; Morando and Rockhold each added 10.

In addition, freshman guard Jordan Johnson (Reynoldsburg) came off the bench to contribute six points, seven rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals in 29 minutes.

Marietta shot 29-of-57 (.509) from the floor, 7-of-18 (.389) from deep and 16-of-26 (.615) from the line. Medaille hit 9-of-18 (.500) three-pointers, but just 21-of-48 (.438) overall and 8-of-18 (.444) from the charity stripe.

The contest was close throughout the first half as neither team could get more than a six-point lead. The Pioneers used a 9-2 run in the final 2:11 of the half to enter intermission with a 36-33 advantage.

Marietta remained in control the entire second half and poured it on during the final nine minutes to cruise to the 22-point victory.

The Pioneer's defense forced 17 turnovers and held Scott Hack, who led Medaille in its opener with 20 points, scoreless. Brandon Beers (14 points) and James McNeil (12 points) each reached double figures in the loss. Marietta dominated the boards, 42-26.

Marietta jumps right into Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action on the road Saturday (Dec. 2) when it make the trek up to Ada to battle Ohio Northern at 3 p.m.

Senior captain Matt Rucker was named the MVP of the Pioneers' season-opening tournament at Case Western

Box Score