DColorado College 82, UW-Stout 80 (OT)
MENOMONIE (November 18, 2017) - Colorado College came out hot, but UW-Stout's
Isaac Elliott proved to be even hotter as the Blue Devils overcame an early large deficit, only to lose to the Tigers, 82-80, in overtime Saturday at Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse in the championship game of the UW-Stout Tip-Off Tournament.
The Tigers (2-0) shot lights out to open the game, running out to an 18-0 lead, hitting 7-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Stout (2-1) missed their first five shots and did not score until Elliott hit a pair of free throws at 13:10 of the first half.
But once Elliott tasted points, he went to the well often. Elliott would score 21 points in the first half, hitting all seven of first half shots, including five 3-pointers and the two free throws. Elliott provided the inspiration as the Blue Devils recovered to take a 35-33 halftime lead.
Stout built up an eight point lead in the second half, but could not hold off the Tigers, who would take a one point 64-63 lead with 2:57 remaining in the second period. The teams traded leads the rest of the way out until CooXooEii Black drained two free throws with four seconds remaining to give Colorado College a 71-69 lead.
Stout's
Brandon Emery cut through traffic on his way to the basket to tie the score with less than a second remaining.
The overtime period remained close. Stout took the lead, 78-77, when
Sam Ortmann buried a 3-pointer and
Joe Duty's two free throws gave Stout a three points, 80-77 lead.
A 3-pointer by the Tigers' Bobby Roth tied the game and a late foul and consequent free throws by John Hatch assured the championship was heading back to Colorado.
Elliott finished the game with a career-high 25 points. The big first half was not the first for the senior. Last season at the same tournament, Elliott went off for 17 points in the first half against Robert Morris College.
Sam Ortmann connected for 14 points.
Brandon Emery and
Keegan Dickson tossed in 11 points apiece. After opening the game stone-cold, the Blue Devils shot 54.5 percent in the first half (12-22) from the floor, but finished the game shooting 46.4 percent (26-56) for the entire game. Stout hit 13 3-pointers, dropping in 13 of 25 (52.0 percent).
Eric Houska led Colorado College with 22 points. Hatch finished with 16 points, Chris Martin 11 and Bobby Roth 10. The Tigers shot 54.2 percent for the game (26-48). The Tigers were 14 of 25 from 3-point range (56.0 percent).
In the consolation game, UW-Superior defeated Marian University, 65-57, behind 20 points from Shaq Coleman.
Stout returns to action when they participate in the UW-Superior Tournament, playing St. Scholastica, Saturday, Nov. 25 and UW-Superior, Sunday, Nov. 26.
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