SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – For the second day in a row, senior Collin Hewitt established a new career-high with 16 points to lead the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team past Madonna University 62-47 on Saturday and claim the 2014 Trent Allen Memorial Tournament championship.
Hewitt garnered Tournament MVP honors after combining for 31 points on 11-for-14 shooting – 7-for-10 from behind the arc – over the two-day tournament while also registering four rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Freshman Zach Medendorp and junior Xavier Prather were named to the All-Tournament Team. Medendorp tallied a game-high 18 points with five rebounds and two blocks against the Crusaders while Prather dished out six assists to go along with two points, three rebounds and a blocked shot.
Trailing 7-6 early, Madonna (2-2) scored 10 unanswered points to take a nine point lead with 10:26 remaining in the first half. The Cougars responded immediately, though, as Hewitt scored seven points to fuel a 14-1 run to regain the lead at the 6:55 mark.
After trading baskets, junior Peter Barry scored on a putback to put SAU on top 21-19, and Medendorp hit back-to-back shots to close out the half giving the Cougars a 25-19 advantage at the break.
Spring Arbor would continue to add to its lead in the early stages of the second half, pushing the margin to 15, 44-29, following a bucket from Tyler Hughes at the 11:45 mark.
Madonna would trim the deficit to 10 with less than six minutes left in the contest, but a pair of free throws from Greg Hamilton, followed by two more from Caleb Hogans, pushed the Cougar lead back to 14 as SAU cruised to the victory.
Hamilton finished with eight points while Thomas Starks contributed six points and seven rebounds.
The Cougars and Crusaders both shot 36 percent from the field. Madonna held a slight edge in rebounds, 38-35, but turned the ball over 21 times compared to SAU's 10.
Up next, Spring Arbor (4-0) will host Siena Heights University (2-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
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