Harris
Longley
The Tigers hit the road to open the 2001 season last weekend, defeating top regional NAIA power Mt. Vernon Nazarene, 69-66, on Friday in the first round of the Lee Pfund Classic at Wheaton College before falling in the title game 77-72 against the host Tornadoes.
The Tigers, the winningest program in NCAA Division III history with more than 1,400 all-time victories, were paced offensively by junior forward B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins), who nearly had two double-doubles. He totaled 18 points and nine rebounds against Mt. Vernon Nazarene and then chipped in with
12 points and 10 boards against the victorious host team. He was joined in double figures in the opener by junior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler), who had 12 points and seven rebounds, and in the championship game by senior guard Chad Mossing (Maumee, Ohio/Holland Springfield) with 12 points and sophomore point guard Mark Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) with 18.
In the opener, the Tigers pulled away late in the game after trailing by six points at halftime. The Tigers shot a respectable 48.3 percent for the game, including a strong 55.6 in the second 20 minutes. But against Wheaton, the Tigers battled to a 72-72 tie, only to be outscored 5-0 in the final three minutes to fall to the host Tornadoes.
Longley and Harris both were named to the All-Tournament team.