DC Wins Case Western Holiday Tourney, Sales Named MVP

CLEVELAND – Defiance notched its fifth-straight win and ninth of the year while also claiming the 2006 Case Western Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament Championship on Saturday with a 76-71 victory over Illinois College.

Nick Sales took Most Valuable Player honors after posting 19 points, 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks while connecting on nine-of-12 shots off the bench for the Jackets. C.J. Johnson was also named to the All-Tourney Team after leading all scorers with 21 points in the championship game.

Defiance led for all but 46 seconds with the lone Illinois College lead coming at 3-2. Matt Muratori reclaimed the 4-3 lead with a jumper at the 18:39 mark and the Jackets never looked back, cruising to a 39-27 halftime lead and the 76-71 win.

The Jackets connected on 18-of-33 shots in the opening 20 minutes of action and went on to shoot 51.7 percent from the floor on the night.

Anthony Pettaway joined Sales and Johnson in double figures with 15 points and Mike Floyd added nine to go with five rebounds and four assists.

Sales was named as the MVP after averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks over the two games while making an eye-popping 82 percent of his shots from the floor.

Johnson averaged 17.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals during the two-day tournament and joined Sales in representing DC on the All-Tourney Team.

The Jackets (9-2, 3-1 HCAC) will be back in action this Wednesday when they host Rose-Hulman in HCAC competition.