Tennessee Temple Wins 7th Place In NCCAA Nationals
Saturday, March 16, 2013
- by Staff Report
LAKE WINONA, Ind. -- No. 7 seed Tennessee Temple outlasted No. 8 Roberts Wesleyan in the seventh-place game of the NCCAA national men's basketball tournament by the score of 80-61.
Roberts Wesleyan only trailed 58-53 with 8:15 to play, but the Crusaders ended the game on a 22-8 run to ease away down the stretch.
Five players scored at least 10 points for Tennessee Temple, led by 16 points off the bench from Elliot Johnson, 15 points from Rashaud Bell, 14 points apiece from Hampton Mack and PJ Whittaker and 12 points from Weedlens Beauvil. Corey Saunders scored only seven, but provided eight assists.
Although Roberts Wesleyan shot 46 percent on offense for the game, the Redhawks hampered their own cause by committing 19 turnovers.
A tightly contested first half began to shift Tennessee Temple’s direction in the second half when they increased their lead to 15 points with less than 12 minutes to go. Roberts Wesleyan clawed back with 10 straight points to bring themselves within five with 8:15 on the clock, but their momentum ran out after that.
Tennessee Temple ended the game by scoring the final 13 points to pull away late. The Redhawks did not put another point on the scoreboard for the final 3:40.
The Redhawks were led in scoring by Devin Grimes (21 points, 10 rebounds), who was named an honorable mention for NCCAA All-American after the contest.
TENN. TEMPLE 80, ROBERTS WESLEYAN 61
ROBERTS WESLEYAN (61) -- Devin Grimes 21, Stone 6, Patrick Downer 11, William Bromirski 11, Dixon 7, Kemp-Harrris 3, Alexander 2.
TENN. TEMPLE (80) -- P.J. Whittaker 14, Clarke, Quinn 2, Weedlen Beauvil 12,. Jones, Rashaud Bell 15, Hampton Mack 14, Sanders 7, Rich'ard, Elliot Johnson 16, Slade.
Halftime: Temple, 38-34. 3-point goals: Roberts 2 (Bromirski, Kemp-Harris); TTU 8 (Beauvil 4, Whittaker 3, Saunders).