Fuzak's 22 Points Not Enough Against Madonna (Mich.) In New Year's Classic Finale

CHICAGO – Bennett Fuzak tallied a team-high 22 points, spurred by a 5-for-8 evening from downtown, as the Roosevelt men's basketball team engaged in a defensive battle with a Madonna (Mich.) team receiving NAIA Top 25 votes, but the visiting Crusaders pulled away thanks to a hot-shooting second half in the Lakers' 80-66 loss to close the Roosevelt New Year's Classic at the Goodman Center on Tuesday.

Quin Riggins came off the bench to score 14 points and pull down a team-high eight rebounds, including six boards on the offensive glass, while fellow bench mobster Sincere Ramsahai handed out six assists for the Lakers (2-14).

Rookie reserve Lucas Jordan knocked down three more three-point buckets after his six made from long range yesterday.

Dwight Burton led all players with 27 points and nine rebounds for the Crusaders (12-5), who broke the game open with a second-half shooting clip of 65 percent (17-for-26).

The two sides engaged in a close battle during the opening 20 minutes, holding each other under 40 percent shooting. The Lakers used six treys and a late defensive stand, highlighted by back-to-back blocks by Fuzak and Mark Johnson, to rally from a four-point deficit as Riggins split a pair at the line with four tenths of a second remaining before intermission.

The Crusaders scored the first six points of the second half to reclaim the lead, and Madonna rode its hot hand from the floor to build a double-digit advantage.

Roosevelt continued to battle, getting within nine late, but Madonna answered back and held the lead until the final horn.

"I really liked our first half, but the second half was our downfall," Roosevelt head coach Joe Griffin said. "They really shot it well in the second half and we couldn't keep the lead within reach. We simply could not contain Burton, and he carried their team.

"Bennett was very good again and Quin really scrapped with six offensive rebounds and some good drives," Griffin continued. "Lucas played well again, but as a team we were pretty cold.

"It's all conference games from here on out and we are ready to take it on and make a run within the league."

Fuzak averaged 19.5 points and 5.0 assists in two Roosevelt New Year's Classic games.

In earlier action as part of the Classic, ninth-ranked Bethel (Ind.) defeated St. Francis (Ill.) 114-81.

The Lakers return to CCAC play to take on Robert Morris in Arlington Heights this Saturday afternoon.