Fuzak Finishes Game, Career Strong, Leads Men's Basketball Past Trinity Christian In Finale

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Bennett Fuzak led all scorers with 24 points, including seven points in the final two-plus minutes, to help the Roosevelt men's basketball team hold off host Trinity Christian by a final of 76-69 on Saturday.

Roosevelt caps the campaign at 8-22 overall and 8-14 in CCAC play, finishing ninth in the league and one spot short of a CCAC Tournament berth.

Josh Redic added 14 points, while Brian Kern tallied 11 to go with five rebounds and five assists.

Fuzak finished 9-for-15 from the floor in his final college contest, going 4-for-8 from downtown.

The Lakers led for most of the game and had a double-digit advantage throughout the second half, but Trinity Christian (11-19, 6-16 CCAC) pulled within one with 2:43 to play.

That's when Fuzak when to work, as the senior connected on a big three-pointer moments later.

After TCC got within one again in the late stages, Fuzak made a pair of free throws to once again make it a three-point game.

Then with 21 seconds left in regulation, Fuzak sank a critically-clutch jumper to put RU up 74-69.

James Pennington missed a three on the other end, and Tariq Archibald gathered the rebound and went to the line to make two free throws to put the game out of reach.

"It was great to end the season on a high note," Roosevelt head coach Joe Griffin said. "We sort of played this game like a football bowl game, in which we wanted to win for just the seniors and create momentum for the future. Fittingly Bennett carried us all night and played great, and Tariq iced the game with the final free throws."

"Losing Bennett for more than a third of the CCAC season really factored into our final seeding, but that's the unfortunate reality of sports," Griffin continued. "Redic was good again and we played as close to a complete game as we have all year."