SAU Takes Second at St. Xavier Tournament
Game 1 Box Score   
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3 Box Score

12/22/04
CHICAGO, IL-The Fighting Bees came into The St. Xavier Tournament on Sunday hoping to build on their 6-5 record.  They were able to defeat Cardinal Stritch 75-64 in the first round of the tournament, as they protected the ball well the entire game, only turning it over twelve times, which was eight fewer than Cardinal Stritch (8-5).

Ryan Johnson led all scorers with 25 points for SAU, while also adding ten rebounds.  Chris Washington chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds, while Nick Ferreira added twelve points for the Fighting Bees, who had only just seven players in the scoring column.

Cardinal Stritch also had three guys score in double figures.  Marquelle Joyner scored 19, while Nick Moran and Ronald Bell added 14 and 12, respectively.

St. Ambrose hoped the momentum from that win would carry over to Monday's second round contest against Aquinas (9-7), and it appeared as if it did.  SAU came out of the gates outscoring Aquinas 31-16 in the first half.  The Fighting Bee's defense really stepped it up, recording eight blocked shots and seven steals.

Washington had another solid game for the Bees, scoring a game high 18 points, while pulling down five rebounds and dishing out four assists.  He also recorded three steals.  Ferreira put forth a nice effort as well, scoring 13, while grabbing nine boards and recording five assists and three steals.  Johnson and Ante Juric were also in double figures with eleven points a piece.  Mike Steigerwald chipped in with ten points off the bench.

Aquinas was led by Damien May, with 13 points.  Aaron Alsgaard and Jeff Jayson scored twelve and eleven, respectively.

After that win, the Fighting Bees met up with tournament host St. Xavier in the championship game on Tuesday.  SAU played the 12-2 Cougars tough early on, going into halftime with a 44-39 lead, but St. X pulled away in the second half, winning the championship 97-85.

Washington once again led the way for St. Ambrose, scoring 22 points and grabbing five rebounds. Johnson added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists.  Juric and Ferreira also scored in double figures with eleven a piece.  Washington and Johnson were each named to the All-Tournament Team for their outstanding efforts.

In the end, SAU just could not stop the hot shooting of St. Xavier.  The Cougars shot 61% in the second half, including 5 for 10 from three point range.  They were led by Rick Romeli and Phillip Watson, who each finished with 24 points.  Matt Marino scored 14, including four three pointers.  Jabari Saunders and Kevin Lowe added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

St. Ambrose will now head south for the winter, playing a pair of games in Tampa, FL.  They will take on Tampa University at 7:00 on December 28, before they play Eckerd College on New Year's eve.

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