Men's Basketball closes out Cali trip with win; Rucker named to All-Tournament Team

Thousand Oaks, Calif. - Fontbonne University men's basketball defeated Nazareth College 79-70 to close out the 20th Annual Cal Lutheran Thrivent Financial Tournament. Fontbonne fell to host Cal Lutheran the day before and are now 3-7 on the year.

A back-and-forth battle for much of the 40 minutes was evident as the teams were tied six times with six lead changes. Fontbonne walked into the locker room with a 37-36 edge over Nazarene. In the first half the Griffins shot 50% from long range with senior Evan Johnson going four-for-seven beyond the arc.

Nazarene led 45-40 three minutes into the second half when the Griffins put together a 15-0 run to lead 55-45 with 13 minutes left to play. Fontbonne led for the rest of the game Fontbonne outshot Nazarene in the second half 42-34.

Four Griffins scored in double digits with Darius Rucker netting 21, Johnson scoring 17, Jared Greenlee adding 14 and Blake Welch chipping in 12. Rucker went 8-for-10 in the field with two blocks and two rebounds. Greenlee was big on the boards, securing a double-double with 15 rebounds while adding two steals. K. Tyler Williams finished with a game-high six assists in the win.

Nazareth's Mills scored 31 points as he went 14-for-15 from the field, while bringing down 12 rebounds and adding adding five assists, five blocks and two steals.

Following the tournament, it was announced that Rucker made the All-Tournament Team for the Griffins. Rucker finished the two-game tournament with 38 points going 14-for-20 in the field with 70% accuracy. He added 15 rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist in his performance.

Fontbonne is back at home this Saturday, January 3rd for their first home game of 2015. The Griffins host Blackburn College at 3:00pm.