SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Buffalo State recovered from a shaky start,
falling behind 8-0 in the first three minutes of the game, to
defeat Centre College, 82-73, in the consolation game of the 2004
Kiwanis-Wittenberg Holiday Classic.
Buffalo State, which had lost its first round game to Hanover
80-62, improved to 3-5 on the 2004-05 season. Centre, which fell
into the consolation game with a 67-46 defeat against the host
Wittenberg Tigers in the first round, leaves Springfield with a 2-9
record.
After scoring just five points in the first half and six points in
the loss to Hanover, Buffalo State forward Jacey Brooks exploded
for 26 second-half points for a record-breaking total of 31 in the
consolation game victory. Brooks broke the record of 30 in a
Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tournament game set a year ago by Wittenberg's
Amber Bishop in a 77-74 title game loss against Hope College.
The two teams were tied at 31 going into halftime, but Buffalo
State dominated the final 20 minutes to run away from Centre, which
struggled with foul problems, leading to 14 more points at the free
throw line for BSC. Among those foul shots were a 10-of-10
performance by Brooks.
Buffalo State also got 12 points each from Tawan Slaughter and Toya
Parks off the bench. BSC shot 57 percent from the field in the
second half. Centre put four players in double figures, led by
Jayme Davis with 19 points and eight rebounds. In addition, Lauren
Clontz finished with 18 points, Sarah Sheeran added 14 points and
eight rebounds, and Monica Vonderbrink capped her day with 12
points and four assists.