Monday, August 09, 2010

In front of a rowdy crowd playing drums throughout the contest, the Valparaiso men’s basketball team kicked off their four-game preseason foreign tour with a decisive 119-54 victory over Rebotera de Cancun Monday evening in Cancun, Mexico.  Michael Rogers (Kingston, Jamaica/Redemption [N.Y.] Christian) paced six Crusaders in double figures with 25 points.

The Crusaders were clicking on all cylinders in all parts of the game, knocking down 15 3-pointers and handing out upwards of 25 assists, led by Howard Little’s (Chicago, Ill./Stoneridge [Calif.] School) six helpers.  Among Valpo’s other top scorers were Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) with 18 points, Ryan Broekhoff (Frankston, Victoria, Australia/Australian Institute of Sport) with 16 points and Matt Kenney (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) with 15 points.

Cory Johnson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East [Iowa State]) and Jay Harris (Aurora, Ill./Oswego East) rounded out the Crusader sextet in double figures with 14 points apiece as Valpo rolled to the win.  Every Crusader who got into the game made a mark in the scoring column, while Kevin Van Wijk (Hoofddorp, Netherlands/Katholieke Scholengemeenschap Hoofddorp) and Cameron Witt (Launceston, Tasmania, Australia/Launceston) did not play while nursing injuries.

The Crusaders continue their trip with their second game Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.