In front of a loud and energetic Corps of Cadets, the #3 seeded Tigers raced out to a 15-0 lead to start the game and never looked back, easily dispatching the #6 seed Gaels by a score of 82-32. Hargrave built the big cushion by way of a smothering full-court defensive effort. The Tigers collected 21 steals (led by Cadet Lyndon Massenburg with 6) on the evening and forced a number of other turnovers in the back court. In addition, Cadet Jon Alexander (8 points on 4-5 shooting, 7 rebounds) and Cadet Tim Buchikos (6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks) controlled the glass and dominated the paint on both ends.
A balanced and efficient offensive attack featured five double-figure scorers. Cadet Lyndon Massenburg (14 points) was the high scorer for the evening with Cadet Malachi Paige (13), Cadet Adom Robinson (10), Cadet Keon McIntosh (10) and Cadet Dewey Carpenter (10) joining him in double-figures.
The win advances Hargrave to the VIC Tournament Semi-Finals, where the #3 Tigers will travel to Roanoke to face #2 North Cross. North Cross handed Hargrave down to the wire losses in their first two meetings this season. The game will be played Thursday, February 21 with a scheduled 7:00 tip-off.
