BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Bridgewater State College men's basketball team defeated Salve Regina University by a score of 75-62 to capture the 2006 BSC Subway Tip-Off Classic title this afternoon from the Adrian Tinsley Center in Bridgewater. The Bears have now opened the season 2-0 for the third straight year as they have now won three consecutive tip-off tournament championships.

Bridgewater State junior guard Tom Cuddihy (Scituate, MA) took home tournament MVP and All-Tournament honors as he led Bridgewater with 24 points and 3 steals in the championship game win over the Seahawks. Cuddihy averaged 18 points, to go along with 7 assists and 4 steals in the tournament. He tallied 12 points, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in the Bears' 75-62 semifinal win over St. Joseph's College on Friday night.

Senior forward Derek Thompson (Hyannis, MA) was also named to the All-Tournament Team for the Bears. Thompson had two strong performances as he tallied 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in the two games. He scored 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds, and 2 steals in the championship victory over Salve.

In the championship game, Bridgewater spotted the Seahawks a 12-1 lead through the first four minutes of play before the Bears finally got untracked. BSC went on an 18-5 run to take their first lead of the game, 19-17. After Salve came back to tie the game up at 21 apiece, the Bears closed out the half with a 12-6 run to take a 33-27 lead into halftime. Cuddihy tallied 13 points in the opening stanza as he connected on 3 three-pointers.

In the second half, BSC built the lead to as much as 17 points before settling for the 75-62 win. Thompson poured in 11 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes, while Cuddihy also scored 11 points in the frame. The Bears forced 26 turnovers in the game while Salve struggled at the free throw line converting just 13 of 24 foul shots.

Senior forward Matt Grendal (Foxboro, MA) led the Seahawks with 21 points as he was an all-tournament selection as well. Grendal averaged 23.5 points in the tournament as he also scored 26 points in the Seahawks' semifinal win over Maine-Machias.

In the tournament consolation game, St. Joseph's College defeated Maine-Machias, 82-69 led by a 21-point performance by guard Chad Pulkkinen (Windham, ME). Pulkkinen was selected to the All-Tournament Team as he averaged 16.5 points and 3.5 assists. Senior forward Pat Mileski (Cape Elizabeth, ME) added 17 points off the bench as he connected on 5-of-10 three-point attempts.

Maine-Machias freshman center David Butler (Teaneck, NJ) rounded out the all-tournament team as he led all players with 53 points, including a 33-point performance in the Clippers 81-61 semi-final loss to Salve Regina University on Friday evening. Butler averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.0 blocks in the tournament.

BSC Men's Basketball Subway Tip-Off Classic

Schedule & Results

Friday, November 17th
Semifinal #1 - Salve Regina University 81, University of Maine-Machias 61
Semifinal #2 - Bridgewater State College 66, St. Joseph's College 49

Saturday, November 18th
Consolation - St. Joseph's College 82, University of Maine-Machias 69
Championship - Bridgewater State College 75, Salve Regina University 62


All Tournament Team

Tom Cuddihy, Bridgewater State College (MVP)
Matt Grendal, Salve Regina University
Chad Pulkkinen, Saint Joseph's College
David Butler, University of Maine-Machias
Derek Thompson, Bridgewater State College