Army Advances to Bulldog Bash Championship Game

Friday, December 1

Charleston, S.C.

5 p.m.

Army West Point

4-1

UMBC

4-4

UMBC

Army

Army Advances to Bulldog Bash Championship Game

December 01, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Five reach double-digit scoring for Army West Point men's basketball as the Black Knights kicked off the Papa John's Bulldog Bash with an 81-70 victory over UMBC.

The Cadets advance to Saturday's championship game in which they'll play Hudson Valley foe Marist for the second time this season. The Red Foxes completed an impressive comeback win in the tournament's opener, rallying from 18 points down at halftime to defeat host the Citadel, 100-91. Army is familiar with Marist as the two played just 13 days ago with the Black Knights taking a 94-73 road win. Junior Jordan Fox dropped a career-high 33 points during that game and matched Army's program record with nine made 3-pointers.

In Friday's game, Fox posted his 12th-straight double-figure scoring night, which dates back to last season, after registering 13 points. Sophomore Tommy Funk matched his career-best in scoring for the fourth time in his two-year tenure when he finished 7-of-13 from the floor, 1-of-3 from long range and 1-of-1 from the free throw line for a team-high 16 points.

Joining him in double digits was Matt Wilson and John Emezie with 11 points each and rookie Alex King with 10 points. Senior Luke Morrison and junior Jacob Kessler notched a team-best six rebounds, while Funk dished out a team-high six assists. Emezie also led all players with four steals, which matched his career-best effort.

The Black Knights trailed 43-41 at the break after a back-and-forth opening period that saw six tie scores and eight lead changes. Army used a 9-3 run to begin the second half and take a 50-46 lead with 17:52 remaining in the game. The Retrievers wouldn't go away though tying the game up at 50-50 following a small 4-0 rally two minutes later.

Army responded, however, with another 9-0 run that ultimately put the neutral site game out of reach. The Black Knights extended their lead to double digits and to a game-high 14 points at 78-64 with 3:16 left to play. UMBC was never able to recover.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army finished the game shooting 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the floor, 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from behind-the-arc, and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the charity stripe.
In every game this season the Black Knights have posted a better shooting percentage from the floor than their opponent.
UMBC recorded marks of 39.3 percent (22-of-56), 42.3 percent (11-of-26) and 62.5 percent (15-of-24), respectively.
Friday's game was the first time this season Army saw five reach twin-figure scoring.
King tallied his first career double-digit scoring night after finishing 3-of-5 from the floor, 1-of-3 from downtown and a perfect 3-of-3 at the line for 10 points.
After leading all scorers at the break with 17 points including 5-of-6 makes from long range, the Black Knights defended UMBC's Joe Sherburne in the second 20 minutes as the junior did not score after halftime.
Sherburne finished as the Retriever's leading scorer with Arkel Lamar and Max Portmann also chipping in 16 and 12 points, respectively.
The Black Knights slightly outrebounded the Retrievers at 37-35 but UMBC held the edge on the offensive glass at 13-10.
The Cadets led the designated visiting team in three categories: points in the paint at 34-18, second-chance points at 15-11 and fast-break points at 12-6.
UMBC held its largest lead of the game at 17-11 with 13:47 remaining in the opening half, while Army recorded its largest lead at 78-64 with 3:16 left to play.
The Black Knights were in front for 22:38. The Retrievers led for 12:25. The game was tied for 4:57.

TURNING POINT

With the game tied for the eighth time at 50-50 with 16:19 remaining, the Black Knights sparked a 12-2 run to over a five-minute span to create a 62-52 gap between the teams. That rally ultimately swayed the momentum and Army never relinquished the lead. UMBC never pulled any closer than seven points throughout the remainder of the contest.

UP NEXT

Army has a quick turnaround as it faces Marist on Saturday in the Papa John's Bulldog Bash championship game at 5 p.m.
This marks the first time since the 2010-11 season the Black Knights are facing a non-league opponent multiple times.
The last time the Cadets defeated a non-league opponent twice in the same season was opposite the Dartmouth during the 2008-09 campaign. Army opened its season at home that year on Nov. 15, 2008 with a 63-48 victory over the Big Green before later adding a 61-54 win on Jan. 3, 2009 in Hanover, N.H.