TCU Comeback Thwarts Urbana Upset
Urbana's Harold Haynes named all-tournament at Cedarville Classic
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (November 17, 2007) – The Blue Knights were oh so close to picking up their first win of the season, but were outscored 9-2 in the final minutes by Trinity Christian (4-1), and fell 79-74 in the second day of the 30th Annual Cedarville Classic. TCU had defeated Cedarville on the first day, 75-70. The NAIA No. 4 Yellow Jackets (1-2) rebounded with a 98-49 victory over Lindsey Wilson for its first win of the season.

Blue Knight senior Harold Haynes scored 23 points in the loss to the Trolls and was named to the Cedarville Classic all-tournament team.

Urbana (0-4) jumped out to a six-point lead to start the contest, up 11-5 on a Haynes jumper at the 15:39 mark of the first half. TCU crawled back and took a 16-14 lead with 11:41 to play on a Jonathan Huizinga lay up. Trinity Christian led by as many as 14 points in the first period and owned a 48-36 advantage at the half.

The Blue Knights erased that deficit and took a one-point lead on an Allen Drake lay up at the 10:56 mark. Urbana led by five, 69-64, with 4:44 to play in the game. TCU took back the lead for good, 74-72 on a lay up by Kurt Gruppen – the tournament’s MVP – with 1:29 to play in the contest. Gruppen was 6-of-6 down the stretch to put the game on ice.

The Blue Knights shot 40 percent from the field, though struggled from behind the arc, knocking down just 4-of-21 treys (19 percent). Urbana only had 12 turnovers to TCU’s 21 and the Blue Knights had 13 steals, led by senior Joe Williams’ four thefts. Trinity Christian had just one steal.

The difference was at the free throw line. The Trolls made 19-of-23 free throws (83 percent), while Urbana made 12-of-19 (63 percent).

For the Blue Knights, Haynes led the way with his 23 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Mike DeBolt added 12 points and Drake had 11 points. Williams had six of Urbana’s 13 assists.

Ross Stuursma led TCU with 22 points and Gruppen added 19.

Urbana hosts West Virginia Tech on Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Warren G. Grimes Center Gymnasium.

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