Wesleyan and Piedmont to face off in 2007 Taylor Championship

Rocky Mount, NC - The 2007 Roger Taylor Invitational kicked off on Friday night in Everett Gymnasium, and for the second straight year, host North Carolina Wesleyan and Piedmont College will face off in Saturday's championship game.  Piedmont overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half to down Catholic University by a 92-88 score, while the Bishops ran away with a dominating 98-42 victory over the University of Maine-Presque Isle.  Catholic and UMPI will play in the consolation game.

NC Wesleyan opened the game against UMPI with a 22-0 run and shot 52 percent in the period en route to a 61-18 halftime advantage.  The substantial lead enabled head coach John Thompson to rest his starters for majority of the second half.

The Owls faired much better in the final period, but Wesleyan's initial run was too much to overcome.

The Bishops placed four players in double figures, led by Jarmel Arrington's 14.  Trey Drake and Lenny Hall contributed 13 points apiece, and Adam Coleman finished with 12. 

For UMPI, Perry Busateri tallied nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

In the night's first game, 2006 MVP Jake Baldwin made an impressive return to Rocky Mount with 30 points and seven rebounds for Piedmont.  Michael Rubio added 18 points and three steals, while Jake Green scored 15 points and dished out four assists.

For Catholic, Tommy Haselden and Jason Banzhaf had 16 and 15 points, respectively.  Banzhaf completed the double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Piedmont shot over 62 percent in the second half to erase the Cardinals' lead.

Saturday's consolation game between the Cardinals and Owls will tip-off at 1:00 p.m.  The championship game featuring Wesleyan and Piedmont will follow at 3:00 p.m.  The Lions defeated the Bishops 78-57 to take last year's crown.

Return to Men's Basketball Main