Published: December 02, 2008 05:06 pm            

Tech preps for fourth Baisi Classic

Bob Williams hopes WVU Tech students are studying this weekend, since the school begins final exams next Monday.

But, Williams also hopes the students can take a pause from the books long enough to support the Golden Bear men’s basketball squad in this weekend’s fourth annual Baisi Classic at the Neal Baisi Athletic Center.

“Most of the students will be here this weekend, so I hope we can get a good crowd,” Williams said.

On Friday, the University of Rio Grande (6-1) will meet the University of Cincinnati-Clearmont at 6 p.m., followed by Tech taking on Tennessee Temple University at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s action will pit Rio Grande and Tennessee Temple at 6 p.m. and Tech against UC-Claremont at 8 p.m.

The Golden Bears entered this week’s action with a 6-2 record.

“We still need some work defensively,” said Williams. “I’m pretty pleased with the offense, but we’ve been struggling a little defensively.”

Tech warmed up for this weekend’s event with a road game last night against Southern Virginia, preceded by a 107-103 victory over visiting Newport News Apprentice Saturday.

“We were up 12. They kept hanging around and made some runs,” Williams said of Apprentice.

Against Apprentice, Tech’s Sam Robertson exploded for 34 points on 16-of-24 shooting, in addition to clearing seven rebounds. Supporting him were three other double-figure scorers — Darryl Slack (22), Victor McGee (16) and Robby Marshall (12). Other scorers for Tech, which led 51-46 at halftime, were: Ricky Young, 4; Princeton Joshway, 4; Vincent Coleman, 2; Zack Thomsen, 6; and Ben Shannon, 7.

Young had seven rebounds and Joshway six, and Thomsen dished out eight assists and Coleman had five.

Apprentice got 25-point performances from both Paige and Spratley, and Arrington and Joe each tossed in 19 markers.

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

        

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