Hot Shooting Spartans Sizzle at the Beach
Dec 20, 2014
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The warmth of the beach has been a welcome sight for the University of Dubuque men's basketball team as they opened play at the 2014 Daytona Beach Shootout Men's Basketball Tournament at the Ocean Center. The Spartans enjoyed a hot shooting afternoon when they captured the opener against the Birmingham Southern Panthers by a score of 76-62. UD improved to 9-1 overall with the victory.
UD held a slim 38-33 lead after the first half, but responded in the final 20 minutes of play by shooting nearly 60% from the field to pull away for the win. The Spartans worked the ball inside and scored 28 points in the paint and led by as much as 15 points midway through the second half. UD's defensive pressure was stepped up in the second half and they held the Panthers to a chilly 10-34 (29.4%) shooting from the field.
Gage Heffernan led the Spartans offensively by scoring 19 points as he scored 7-11 shot attempts. He also led UD on the glass by collecting seven rebounds. Brandon Ferguson opened up the game with a three point basket and sank 3-5 attempts from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points, three assists and two blocks. Andre Norris added 14 points in 25 minutes of action. Norris would sink 7-8 free throw attempts. Twelve Spartans saw action in the victory and nine scored.
The Spartans continue play on Sunday, Dec. 21 when they match-up against Bridgewater College at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) before enjoying Christmas break. The Spartans return to action on January 7 when they host the Central College Dutch in the Iowa Conference opener at 8:00 p.m.
