UMHB led by as many 13 points at 58-45 with 8:20 remaining before VWC started the comeback. Ryan Burgart scored the only Cru basket as the Marlins went on a 13-3 run to pull to within 61-58 with 1:35 left to play. Kevin Guyden hit a lay-up for UMHB to make it 63-58 with 1:04 to go but Stephen Fields answered with a three-pointer for VWC to cut it to 63-61 with 53 seconds left. D’Juan Tucker was fouled on a three-point attempt with 11 seconds left on the clock for the Marlins, but hit just one of the three free throws. Fields had a jumper blocked by Burgart on the rebound and Thomas Sumpter was called for traveling with three seconds left on the final Marlins possession of the game. UMHB then ran out the clock for the victory. The Cru led 34-33 at halftime.
Burgart led UMHB with 16 points and seven rebounds. Guyden and Neiman Ford chipped in with 13 points apiece for the Crusaders as UMHB shot 48 per cent from the field. Fields came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points for VWC and Tyler Fantin added 14 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out midway through the second half. The Cru held defending national player of the year Brandon Adair to just six points on 2-9 shooting from the field.
UMHB will close out the Cru Crothall Holiday Classic with a 3:00 PM tip-off against Ripon College (4-3) tomorrow afternoon. Virginia Wesleyan will take on Hardin-Simmons University (4-5) in a 1:00 PM start to open tomorrow’s tournament action.