The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemeda.net

THE Georgia Southern Eagles left the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase with their undefeated record intact.

The Eagles nearly surrended a 20-point second half lead but a key block on the final play of regulation secured an 80-77 win over the Montana Grizzlies last night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Montae Glenn’s outstretched arm deflected the possible game tying three point attempt from the Grizzlies’ Ahmad Rorie as time expired.

Tournament MVP and All-Tournament first team player Tookie Brown, led five Eagles in double figures with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists. Glenn, who joined Brown on the first team, finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Ike Smith scored 15, Calvin Wishart came off the bench to score 11.

Rorie, another All-Tournament first team selection, led the Grizzlies with 19 points and six assists while Michael Oguine finished with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Georgia Southern improved to 5-0 on the season with the win. Their path to the title also included an 80-70 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls and 88-78 win over the Pepperdine Wave in the semi-finals.

After Montana dominated the Incarante Word Cardinals 93-66 on opening day, their final two games were decided by a total of five points. They defeated the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 73-71 in the semi-final.

After their first loss the Grizzlies fell to 4-1 on the season.

Other participating teams included Towson and North Dakota State University.

This was the Eagles second consecutive appearance in an early season tournament championship game in as many years. They lost the final of the Gulf Coast Showcase to Towson last year and went on the finish the season 21-12.

Montana finished 26-8 last year after capturing the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Towson will look to win an early season tournament for the second straight season after beating Georgia Southern in the finals of the Gulf Coast Showcase in Southwest Florida. GSU went on to finish 21-12 on the season.

bd Global is no stranger to the Bahamas as the firm currently manages two Web.com Tour professional golf events in the country each January.

bdG partnered with Tourism to create the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in 2017 and both events return at the start of next year’s Web.com Tour in January.

“We are excited to once again partner with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the National Sports Authority, and the Bahamas Basketball Federation to bring this tournament to Nassau,” said bd Global president Brooks Downing.

“This truly is becoming a community event for Nassau, and last year, they witnessed two teams in our championship game – Vermont and Northern Kentucky – that played in the NCAA Tournament just six months earlier.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple teams from this year’s tournament competing in March Madness this season as well,” he added.