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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Eric Hanna
The Blue Streaks are 3-0 for the third time in four seasons. 
92
Winner John Carroll JCU 2-0,0-0 OAC
76
Medaille MED 1-2,0-0 AMCC
Winner
John Carroll JCU
2-0,0-0 OAC
92
Final
76
Medaille MED
1-2,0-0 AMCC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
John Carroll JCU 42 50 92
Medaille MED 38 38 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Deuce Zak, Staff Writer

Men's Basketball Hits Plentiful Free Throws to Defeat Medaille

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Blue Streaks traveled to Buffalo on Friday for the Community Health Center of Buffalo Classic at Buffalo State, facing the Medaille Mavericks on night one of the tournament. 

In what was not always a pretty game, John Carroll Men's Basketball battled from start to finish. The team saw a new star flash his potential, seeing freshman David Gentry leading the charge on both ends of the floor. 

The Blue Streaks took care of business, tallying a 92-76 victory to advance to 3-0 on the season.

The first half of the contest was a dogfight, with both teams fighting hard for points and the ball. The Blue Streaks trailed for around 50% of the first half, finally gaining their first lead going up 19-17. 

From there, the Blue and Gold would lead by as much as eight, but never be able to put too much pressure on the Mavericks, who scraped and clawed for buckets, along with the Blue Streaks. The star player for Medaille, Rodney Graves, quickly accrued three fouls in the first half, forcing the Mavericks to adapt without their top scorer. 

For the Blue Streaks, there wasn't a particular player who truly shined brightest in the first half, however, there were signs of things to come from freshman David Gentry. The Blue & Gold fought through several long stoppages and interruptions in the flow of the game to a 4-point halftime lead at 42-38. 

The second half played to a much different tune for both teams. John Carroll started fast with a 4-0 run to extend the lead to eight, and brought a greater intensity on defense. While he didn't stuff the stat sheet, William Wallace played lockdown defense on Rodney Graves throughout the half, hounding him and keeping the ball out of his hands. Chase Toppin and Eric Hanna also provided high energy and intensity on both ends of the floor, giving Medaille players fits as they'd make it to the basket at will. Jackson Sartain chipped in with several huge steals and momentum-shifting threes, and Connor O'Toole acting as the facilitator for all the playmakers. 

The real star of the night, however, was David Gentry, who got whatever he wanted around the rim in the second half. Medaille had no answer to his inside presence, and Gentry had a plethora of offensive rebounds and trips to the charity stripe in the second half. The freshman from Hudson tallied 21 points, connecting on 11-of-15 free throws. 

Points from the charity stripe made a huge difference in the end, as JCU owned the advantage, 25-11, in points off free throws. 

Gentry's incredible play on the inside kicked the Blue Streak offense into high gear, ballooning their lead from 4 points to as much as 17 at 74-57 in the second half. Once John Carroll got going on offense, the Mavericks couldn't keep up, and the Blue & Gold cruised to a 92-76 win. 

Toppin led the team with a game-high 25 points. The sophomore added 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Sartain managed a double-double in the winning effort, with 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds in an impressive game for the super senior. Eric Hanna also reached double figures with 11 points.

The host of the tournament, Buffalo State, awaits John Carroll on the second day of the tournament for a noon tip-off. 
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