ALAMOSA, Colo.---- In what proved to be the championship game of the 2009 Adams State Bankers Classic this evening in Alamosa, Colorado, it was the SF State defeating the tournament hosts Adams State, 77-70 in front of 1,372 fans at Platchy Hall on the campus of Adams State. Tournament Most Valuable Player Marquel Hoskins (Beloit, Wisconsin, Reedley College) led the Gators with a season high 22 points and was one of three SF State players to score in double figures. With the win, SF State improves to 4-1 while the Grizzlies fall to 2-1.

            “Tournament MVP, Marquel Hoskins took the game over and played with confidence and poise down the stretch for us,” said SF State Head Coach Bill Treseler. “Ralph Nevarez (West Covina, California, East Los Angeles College), Tim Pratt (Eureka, California, College of the Redwoods), and Joshua Hash (Eureka, California, College of the Redwoods) all stepped up for us and played huge for us down the stretch,” added Treseler. “Phoenix O'Rourke (San Mateo, California, Junipero Serra)was solid while earning his second All-Tournament Team selection,” said the fifth-year coach. “I am proud of the team on how we competed down the stretch and this gives us good signs for what is ahead of us in the future.”

            In the first half, the Gators outscored Adams State 11-5 in the first seven minutes of the game. The Grizzlies cut the Gator lead to 15-13 on a Natte Ingrbrestson jumper with 8:20 to go. SF State increased its lead back to 6 (19-13) on two made free throws by Aaron Trigg at the 7:10 mark, but the Grizzlies outscored their visitors 12-4 in the next four minutes to take a 25-23 lead. The Gators tied the game at 30-30 with just 30 ticks left in the first half on two made free throws by Hoskins, but All-Tournament Team selection Forrest Becker's lay-up gave the Grizzlies a 32-30 lead going into the locker room.

            Joshua Hash's jumper capped a 13-6 run by the Gators in the first six minutes of the second half to give the visitors a 43-38 lead, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game. Adams State cut the Gator lead to just one three times in the next five minutes with the last coming at the 9:30 mark when Eric Miller connected on both free throws to cut the SF State lead to 50-49.          

            The Gators built their lead to double digits as they outscored their hosts 11-2 in capped by a Ralph Nevarez lay-up with 6:48 to go in the game. The Gators increased their lead to 14 (68-54) on a three-pointer by Phoenix O'Rourke (who also was named to the All-Tournament Team) with 4:42 left on the clock off an assist from Hash. 

            Adams State would not go away as they cut the Gator lead to just 6 (76-70) with 18 seconds to go on a Becker three, but O'Rourke connected on one of two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock to seal the tournament championship for the Gators.

            Hoskins finished with 22 points, going 5 of 8 from the field including 12 of 15 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed a team high 6 rebounds while dishing out two assists and recording two steals in 29 minutes. O'Rourke finished with 13 points while going 4 of 9 from the field, of which two were three's. He also was 3 of 5 from the line and grabbed four rebounds and recorded two steals. Senior post player Derek Fletcher (San Jose, California, Branham) finished the night with 12 points and had two blocks, which gives him 48 for his career and puts him fourth on the Gator all-time career list.

            Becker finished with 20 points leading the way for Adams State. The Gators held the Grizzlies to just 37.5% shooting from the field including 33% from three's while shooting 53% from the field for the game themselves. 

            The Gators will return to the court this Tuesday, November 24 at 6pm, when they travel to Fullerton, California, for a non-conference game with Hope International University.
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