Piedmont College wins 2006 Roger Taylor Invitational 

Rocky Mount, NC - Behind 25 points and 11 rebounds from Jake Baldwin, the Lions of Piedmont College earned a 78-57 championship win over host North Carolina Wesleyan at the 2006 Roger Taylor Invitational. Baldwin, who scored a tournament-record 42 points in Friday’s first round game, was named Most Valuable Player.  York College defeated Wesley College 64-54 in the consolation game to take home third place honors.

Despite shooting over 40 percent to the Bishops’ 31 in the first half, Piedmont was only able to forge a 34-30 lead at the break.  Baldwin led all scorers in the period with 12 points.

Piedmont ran away with the game in the final 20 minutes thanks to a 19-1 run midway through the period.  The Lions shot 52 percent from the floor in the half en route to the championship win.

In addition to Baldwin’s 25 and 11, Tyler Whitlock recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Mike Adams and Jake Green each chipped in 10 points, while Green dished out a game-high eight assists.

Senior Emanual Alston led Wesleyan with his first double-double of the season, recording 12 points and 12 boards.  The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Battling Bishops.

In the consolation game, the Wolverines of Wesley College built a 30-25 halftime lead behind 11 points from Rashawn Johnson.  York, however, out-scored Wesley 39-24 in the second half to pull away for the 10-point win.

Jeffrey Boone paced the Cardinals with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting.  Aaron Wilson added 17, while Michael Salamanca turned in 10 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

For Wesley, Johnson finished with a team-high 20 points.

Below is the 2006 Roger Taylor Invitational All-Tournament team.

Jeffrey Boone - York
Rashawn Johnson - Wesley
Jarvis Cobb - NC Wesleyan
Mike Adams - Piedmont
Jake Green - Piedmont
Jake Baldwin - Piedmont – MVP