United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Basketball - Johnson, Prebeck Lead Bears to Tip-Off Championship

THROGGS NECK, N.Y.--(11/17/07)--Junior Craig Johnson had 29 points and 13 rebounds leading Coast Guard to a 76-63 win over N.Y. Maritime in the championship game of the N.Y. Maritime Tip-Off Tournament.

Johnson and senior Jeff Prebeck who had 24 points and six rebounds both earned spots on the All-tournament team.

In the early going, N.Y. Maritime took its first lead of the game 11-8 before Coast Guard responded with a 16-2 spurt taking a 24-13 lead with 10:10 left in the first half.

The Privateers however scored eight straight and regained the lead at 36-34 and led 39-37 at halftime. Coast Guard was out rebounded 28-11 in the first half and the Bears did not make a three-pointer, missing all six in the first 20 minutes.

Coast Guard regained the lead 47-45 on a hoop by Craig Johnson with 14:15 left, but Maritime then scored nine straight taking a 54-47 lead with 11:30 left in the game.

N.Y. Maritime led 56-51 when the Bears answered with nine straight of their own to take a 60-56 lead with 6:11 left. Coast Guard took the lead for good, 58-56, on a basket by Steve Blum with 6:40 left.

Senior Al Sowers was also in double figures for the Bears as he finished with 11 points and a game-high seven assists.

Sowers became the Bears all-time assists leader with 327 breaking the previous school record of 321 held by current Coast Guard assistant coach Sam Cheung (’02).