Ronald Thornhill earned Tip-off Classic MVP after a record setting 40 points performance, including 10 3-pointers
Box Score vs. Newberry
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team gathered their second win in impressive fashion with a 103-83 victory against Newberry College on the second and final day on the Claude Saunders/Wendy's JCSU Tip-off Classic. The Golden Bulls improve to 2-0 overall, while the Wolves slide to 1-2 for the season.
J.C. Smith controlled this ball game from beginning to end, never trailing for a single second. Junior guard
James Otey (Roanoke, VA) popped a three point to start the scoring and before long, JCSU was ahead 9-0 after two and half minutes of play. Going into the locker room at halftime, the Golden Bulls held a 61-29 advantage.
Johnson C. Smith shot a ridiculous 62.5% (20-32) from the field and 60% from beyond the arc (9-15). Senior guard
Ronald Thornhill (Alberta, VA) eclipsed his previous career-high of 25 points in the first half of this game with 26 points. Thornhill was 8-of-9 from the floor, including 6-of-7 from the three point line.
Thornhill's big first half performance nearly overshadowed the two other scorers with double figures at the break. Junior guard
Trevin Parks (Hickory, NC) dropped in 12 points and four assists, while Otey chipped in 10 points.
Newberry outscored JCSU 54-42 in the second half, but it was enough to grasp the victory. The Golden Bulls won the battle of the boards 50-39 and ended the contest shooting 56.6% (30-53). However, the story of the night was undeniably Mr.
Ronald Thornhill.
Thornhill finished with a game and career-high of 40 points with four assists. Parks followed with 17 points and eight assists. Otey and freshman forward
Terrance Hampton (Charlotte, NC) each had 10 points apiece. Thornhill set a new JCSU record for most three pointers made in a single game with 10, the previous record of nine was held by Columbus “Green Light” Parker (1990) and Antoine Sims (2002).
Thornhill was nine points shy of tying Parker's school record for most points scored in a single game. Jackie Wilson (1967), George Cooper (1975), Walter Hurd (1989), and Parker (1990) all scored 49 points in a particular contest for the Golden Bulls.
“I'm shocked, but of course extremely pleased with our performance tonight,” said JCSU head coach #Stephen Joyner, Sr#. “Our team seemed to mature in just 24 hours. Last night, we faced a strong team, and tonight we came out and worked to play together as a team as well as striving to execute the game plan. Thornhill had an outstanding night and I'm very proud of how played tonight.”
Thornhill was named Tip-off Classic MVP; Parks was named to the Classic All-Tournament team, and sophomore forward
Calvin Smith (Auburn, AL) earned the Classic Academic Award for JCSU with a 3.4 GPA.
The Golden Bulls will now travel to Milwaukee, WI over the Thanksgiving holiday for the
2010 Fresh Coast Classic. JCSU will square off against Bowie State University on Friday, November 26th at 2:00 pm on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Saturday's schedule is contingent on the outcome of Friday's games.
