John Carroll and Bethany took turns making big runs Saturday evening in the first round of the 2010 John Steadman Classic.

For the Blue Streak faitfhul, it was a good turn of fortune that had John Carroll make the right surge at the right time. A timely burst by the home team over the final 2:27 enabled the Blue Streaks to take a 90-85 victory over Bethany.  

Box Score

In the first half, both teams were willing and ready to play uptempo and the stat sheet indicated it, as both teams shot 50-percent from the floor. It was the visiting Bison that held a 39-36 edge at the break. 

Coming out of halftime facing a three point deficit, the Blue Streaks quickly erased the difference by going on a 17-10 run over a five minute span. Although JCU never conceded the lead for the remainder of the contest, it was far from over -- even when Carroll's lead went as deep as 10 points with just under 10 minutes on the clock.

Three three-pointers apiece by Michael Hartnett and Joey Meyer were part of the Streaks restablished scoring dominance in the second half. On the night Hartnett scored 17 points on 5-9 shooting from three-point range, while his fellow sharp shooter Meyer went 4-7 from way downtown. 

Meyer led the Carroll in scoring with a season-high 23 points in 35 minutes on 6-10 shooting (7-7 FT). 

The Bisons were carried by sophomore guard James Barton who tallied a game-high 27 points on 11-17 shooting off the bench. Barton's scoring outburst fueled the Bisons for most of the game and caught the Streaks off guard.

"Never in 100 years did we think Barton would pick us apart and score 27 points. He was certainly on top of his game" said Moran.     

Junior transfer Conor Tilow got the start and was one of six Streaks (Hartnett -17, Meyer - 23, Corey Shontz  - 11, Maurice Haynes - 10, Kyle Hubbard - 12) to score in double-figures with 12 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. 
 
Both team's accuracy from the floor played a crucial role in why this game was played so close throughout, as the Bisons shot 54.0% (34-63) and the Streaks posted 51.7% from the floor. Additionally, both teams each drained nine three-point shots. 

In game one of the Steadman Clasic, played between Case Western Reserve University and Olivet College, the style resembled the fabled story about the tortise and the hare. Slow and steady in this scenario, Olivet won the race as it outlasted Case's best efforts to hand the Spartans a 86-69 loss. 

The Streaks will hit the floor at the DeCarlo Varsity Center tomorrow at 3:00 p.m in the championship game against Olivet College to defend their home court and maintian their hot start to the season, going 4-0 in their first four games.   

The consolation game of the Steadman Classic between Case Western Reserve and Bethany College will be held prior to the championship game tomorrow, Sunday, November 28th at 1:00 p.m.