Ian Chiles scored a career-high 25 points, had nine rebounds and added a career-high seven blocks against Marist.
Box Score
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (Nov. 25, 2013)-
Ian Chiles scored a game- and career-high 25 points, gathered nine rebounds and added a career- and game-high seven blocks for good measure, to lead Morgan State to a 74-67 overtime victory over Marist on Monday afternoon in the Paradise Jam Tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports & Fitness Center.
With the win, the Bears (1-6) picked up their first win of the tournament and of the season, and captured seventh-place, while Marist (0-7) remained winless on the year and finished eighth.
Chiles, who scored 14 of his 25 points in the first half, shot 11-for-21 for the game and added three assists for the Bears, falling one assist shy of tying a career-high. Chiles concluded the tournament with a total of 15 blocked shots.
Not only did the Red Foxes have to deal with Chiles' presence inside, but they had to account for both
Justin Black and
Cedric Blossom, who both had a productive afternoon.
Black finished with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds and three steals, while Blossom shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line to finish with a career-high 16 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.
Marist held a 57-49 lead with 7:09 to play after a three-pointer by Manny Thomas. However, the Red Foxes were unable to hold onto the lead. The Bears would go on an 11-3 spurt to take a 60-57 lead with 3:08 to play. The Red Foxes would score the next five points to go up by two, before Blossom knocked down two free throws to force overtime.
Morgan State began the overtime session with a 9-1 run, capped off by a three-pointer off the glass by
Blake Bozeman as the shot clock expired, giving the Bears a 71-64 lead with 36 seconds remaining. A three-point play by Lewis, brought the Red Foxes within 71-67 with 29 seconds left, but that would be as close as they would get.
The Bears held an 18-9 lead, following a three-pointer by Black with12:46 left in the opening half. The Red Foxes then used a 12-2 spurt to take a 22-20 lead with 7:19 left. Morgan State countered with a 10-6 run to close out the half and take a 30-28 lead at the break.
Morgan State held a 44-41 lead, but the Red Foxes countered with a 13-4 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Pieter Prinsloo to give Marist a 54-48 advantage with 8:32 left.
Marist was led by Jay Bowie, who shot 8-for-11 to score a team-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Chavaughn Lewis added 15 points, while Adam Kemp and Khallid Hart scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Prinsloo pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds in the loss.
Morgan State returns to action on Friday, Nov. 29, when it travels to College Park, Md. to face the Maryland Terps. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Comcast Center. Maryland, which reached the championship game of the Paradise Jam, had yet to tip prior to this release.
