Wittenberg Falls To Host Washington University In Championship of Lopata Classic

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Washington University's Mike Grunst finished with a school-record 10 blocked shots as the host Bears toppled the 10th-ranked Wittenberg Tigers, 69-66, in the championship game of the 21st annual Lopata Classic.

Grunst also recorded 10 points and six rebounds en route to earning the Robert L. Brynes Most Valuable Player award. Grunst was joined on the all-tournament team by Dane Borchers and Andy Bucheit of Wittenberg, Aaron Dawson of Whittier, Michael Faherty of Washington University and Reggie Stovell of Tufts.

After Wittenberg led by as much as four points early in the game, the Bears connected on several clutch three-pointers to ease out to a 35-29 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

The Tigers never led in the second half, but a lay-up by Borchers, who went for 14 points and seven rebounds after a 14 and nine performance in Friday's win over Whittier, cut the lead to 50-47 with 8:39 left. The Washington University lead would stretch to as many as seven points before Wittenberg rallied again. Daniel Russ, coming off the bench for a second straight game, scored on three consecutive possessions to make it 65-64 with 51 seconds remaining.

Grunst was fouled and made two free throws to make it 67-64 with 34 seconds left and then Borchers responded by making 2-of-3 free-throws after being fouled on a three-pointer to make it 67-66. Faherty sealed the win, however, with two free throws in the waning second as the Bears won their fifth straight Lopata Classic title and avenged last year's Wittenberg win in the championship game of the Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tip-Off Classic.

Washington University's defense held Wittenberg to a 32.2 percent (19-59) shooting clip from the field and forced 13 turnovers. The Tigers outrebounded the Bears decisively, 43-28, including a 19-4 advantage on the offensive glass. Russ finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Bucheit chipped in with 15 points and five boards and senior point guard Danny Brywczynski added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in a well-rounded game.

The road gets no easier for the Tigers as they head to Capital for a game on Wednesday, Nov. 24, before finally opening the 2004-05 home schedule against Urbana on Saturday, Nov. 27.