MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Junior guard Jake Snyder (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) scored a career-high 26 points to help lead the Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team to a victory over nonconference opponent the University of Dubuque (Iowa) in the first day of the Cruzin Classic at St. Thomas University in the Fernandez Family Center.
BW (6-3) was led by Snyder with 26 points, five rebounds and two assists. Junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference guard Anthony Mazzeo (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) as he added 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Shane Zalba (Mentor) as he added 10 points and four steals.
Dubuque (6-5) was led by freshman guard Jaylin McCants who 15 points and secured six boards. Senior forward Peter Ragen as he 13 points and junior forward Levi Scheuermann as he added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Both teams came out hot to the open the gate. The Spartans were able to get on the board first just 30 seconds into the game. However, the Yellow Jackets quickly got the lead at 8-6 and never looked back BW was able to get out to a big lead in the first off, some great three pointing as they went 8/16 from deep. Snyder led the way with 15 points in the first half. Sophomore forward Rob Watson III (Sagamore Hills/Nordonia) led the way defensively as he had four blocks throughout the half. The Yellow Jackets built up a strong lead as they led 44-31 at the break.
A quick 7-1 run out the half led by threes from Mazzeo and Snyder got BW out to a 19 point lead 16:11 left in the game. The next seven points were scored by the Spartans as they trimmed the lead back down to 12. The defenses from both teams went on display as the teams went scoreless for the next three minutes. The Yellow Jackets were able to hold onto their big lead because of their work at the free throw line. BW went 15/20 from the charity strip in the second half. Dubuque turned up the pressure defensively in the second half and got the Yellow Jackets lead down to single digits. But it wasn't enough as some late Snyder, Mazzeo and freshman guard Ashton Price (Bay Village/Bay) put the BW lead back up to 11 and the Yellow Jackets walked away with a 74-63 win.
BW returns to action today, December 20th when they play their second and final game in the Cruzin Classic at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla. as they take on Wartburg (Iowa) College at 12:00 p.m. in the Fernandez Family Center.
