University of Mary Hardin-Baylor senior forward Tilmon Gaddy shot down the sixth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as the Crusaders defeated UW-W 73-67 in the championship game of the Cru Holiday Classic at UMH-B in Belton, Texas Tuesday evening.

box score

Fouls forced UW-W coach Pat Miller to go deeper in his bench than he has in any first half this season.  Leading scorer Myles McKay (Menomonee Falls/Menomonee Falls) had to go out after just nine minutes of play with his second foul, and he was joined in succession by Kori Vernon (Madison/Memorial), Dustin Mitchell (Lac Du Flambeau/Lakeland), Billy Kolinske (Waukesha/Catholic Memorial) and Chris Vines (Milwaukee/Washington) as UW-W totaled 13 fouls in the half.  The Warhawks also committed thirteen turnovers.

As UMH-B's 30-28 halftime lead would indicate the Crusaders didn't fare much better, with eleven team fouls and eleven turnovers.  Senior forward Tilmon Gaddy was the difference, providing 16 of UMH-B's points at the break.

UMH-B went up by six, 37-31 early in the second half, but Phil Negri (Minocgua/Lakeland)'s three-pointer with 13:49 gave the Warhawks their first lead since early in the game.  UW-W built on that to go up 55-50 when Tyson Kingsby (Milwaukee/Custer) stole the ball and fed Myles McKay (Menomonee Falls/Menomonee Falls) for a jumper. 

Less than three minutes later it was tied again, 55-55.

Once again, UW-W seemed to regain its balance and went up 61-55 on Matt Goodwin (Milwaukee/King)'s three from the top of the key at 7:17. 

Gaddy, again, made the key play, hitting a three-pointer at 3:03 to put the Crusaders back in front 64-63, and the teams traded the lead until Jason Wagner hit two free throws with 0:13 left to put UMH-B up 72-67, making it a two possession game. 

Whitewater's last gasp resulted in an offensive foul and UMH-B ended the scoring with a free throw.

There was little statistical difference between the teams.  Whitewater shot 44% from the floor, the Crusaders 42%.  Whitewater had 35 rebounds, UMH-B 33.  The big difference, and the difference in the final score, came from the free throw line where UMH-B was 17-24 and UW-W 11-16.  And then there was Gaddy.

Gaddy, who came in to the game averaging 13.9 points per game, wound up with 31 to lead all scorers.  His previous high was 19 versus The College of the Ozarks December 1.  Michael Ivey and Zane Johnston added 11 each. 

McKay, who scored just three points in the first half because of foul trouble, came back to lead UW-W with 17 points.  Vernon contributed 12, and Kolinske was the game's leading rebounder with eight. 

UW-W, now 10-2, will host UW-River Falls Saturday, January 3 at 1:00 in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is 4-4. 

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach