Cox Communications Classic – Day Three
NORFOLK, Va. – The final day of the Cox Communications Classic had two dandies. It was a good sign since it showed that all four teams got better over the course of the weekend. That’s what each team wanted, even though all four certainly hoped to come away with a 3-0 mark and only one team did do that.
“I think every game, we improved and did some good things,” Arkansas State head coach Dickey Nutt said. “We dug ditches for three days and didn’t get paid, the way I look at it.”
Monmouth (1-2) 69, Arkansas State (0-3) 67 (OT)
A back-and-forth game where neither team led by more than six looked to be in Arkansas State’s hands in the final minute, as they held a four-point lead, but Monmouth rallied to force overtime and held on to pick up their first win of the season, 69-67.
The Indians ran off nine unanswered points to take a 60-56 lead with 1:04 left to play. Then Mike Shipman (12 points, six assists) drove the baseline twice for scores, once for a layup and once for two free throws he made. Overtime almost didn’t come, as Adrian Banks (game-high 24 points, including 6-9 on three-pointers) just missed a fadeaway three-pointer near his own bench as time expired.
In the extra session, senior Marques Alston showed once again why he is known for his clutch play, as he scored the last two baskets to first tie the game, then give them the win. Alston finished with 16 points on 6-8 shooting. He also had a key assist on a basket by Dejan Delic in the extra session.
Clemson (3-0) 74, Old Dominion (2-1) 70
Old Dominion almost pulled off a stunner, trailing by double digits for most of the second half before storming back in the final minutes. It wasn’t quite enough, however, as Clemson held on for the 74-70 win and the championship of the tournament.
Clemson took the lead for good when they went on a 13-2 run in the first half. They led by no less than eight and no more than 13 for about a 14-minute stretch before the Monarchs came back. They even kept the lead up despite some foul trouble, including tournament MVP James Mays picking up two fouls early.
The Monarchs hurt themselves at the line in the first half, going 7-16 from the foul line. That hurt any chances they had at gaining momentum, although they did close out the first half with consecutive baskets to go to the locker room down by just single digits.
Team Summaries
Arkansas State: The Indians have the look of a team that won’t struggle to score much once they get going. They have nine new players and are missing two starters (point guard Yual Banks is out for at least another 2-4 weeks with a bad groin injury and guard Jim Jones is on an academic suspension for the remainder of the semester), so Dickey Nutt knows his team won’t have it easy at first. Having a freshman point guard for the time being means a baptism by fire and some adjustments, but Ryan Wedel acquitted himself very well playing most of each game. Adrian Banks can really shoot the ball and is very athletic, and Wells can score but needs to stay out of foul trouble. To his credit, he played a while with four fouls on Sunday.
Clemson: The Tigers have to continue progressing in the ACC this season, and if the first three games are any indication, they are on their way. Having Mays, who was academically ineligible for the second semester last year, makes a real difference both on the glass and in the press, while freshmen Trevor Booker looked impressive and the frontcourt reserves did their job. The press can be excellent at times, and the guards shot well this weekend, especially Cliff Hammonds. The shooting of the guards was a problem last season, so Hammonds and Rivers shooting well this weekend is a real bright spot. Hamilton had too many turnovers on Sunday (nine), including a few late in the game, and he has to avoid that as the team’s only senior. The Tigers certainly have the bodies, but they came through and got three good wins this weekend.
Monmouth: The weekend ended on a good note for the Hawks, especially with the play of their guards. The Hawks are picked to win the Northeast Conference and certainly have the talent, but head coach Dave Calloway talked about the relative inexperience of his guards and that’s not to be dismissed. Shipman and Whitney Coleman will be good players, but now they have to be leaders as sophomores. On Sunday, both took good steps forward, combining for 28 points, eight assists and just two turnovers after each had five turnovers on Saturday night. They know what they’re getting with seniors Alston, Dejan Delic and Corey Hallett, and classmate John Bunch can be a stopper inside and made some nice passes to cutters, so the veterans are in good shape. It’s the sophomore guards and freshman Jahmar Youngblood, who also showed some promise this weekend, that the concern lies with.
Old Dominion: Drew Williamson has made his mark for three years as a playmaker, defender and leader. Now the Monarchs want him to score more, which is never an easy adjustment to make. He had his struggles, but also found ways to score without trying, like getting loose balls in the right place. Brandon Johnson has started his season well, and it looks like he and Williamson will play together a fair amount. Arnaud Dahi had his moments, but played a lot of minutes on a knee that still isn’t 100 percent and he struggled shooting the ball. Valdas Vasylius is solid, while Brian Henderson had his moments but will need to get better. Of the freshmen, Marsharee Neely is very athletic and has potential, while Gerald Lee got some minutes as well. All told, the Monarchs have the look of a team needing to find a consistent go-to guy, but not lacking for candidates. Whether or not Williamson becomes that guy, his value to the team can’t be understated and that was clear from this weekend’s play.
Tournament Notes
- Symbolic of teams trying to find out about themselves at this early juncture, Monmouth was the only team to use the same starting lineup for all three of its games. Old Dominion used three different starting lineups.
- The all-tournament team consisted of: Adrian Banks, Arkansas State; Whitney Coleman, Monmouth; Cliff Hammonds, Clemson; Valdas Vasylius, Old Dominion; Drew Williamson, Old Dominion.
