Box Score Cleveland, OH---After winning their season opener,91-68, against RIT last night in the opening round of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Memorial Tournament, the BC men's basketball team proved they had plenty left in the tank to defeat tourney host, Case Western Reserve, 92-79 in tonight's championship game.  The Bulldogs start the season with a 2-0 record. NEXT UP: Home Opener vs. New Jersey City University | Wed. 11/18 | 7PM. 
 
Case Western established their home court advantage in the first couple minutes of the championship game, jumping out to an 8-2 lead at the 18:26 mark.  However, in the next couple of minutes the Bulldogs proved that they were up for the challenge, making it a one-possession game in the next couple of minutes with back-to-back lay-ups.  Whenever it seemed the Trojans would be able to create some momentum with a three-pointer, the Bulldogs would answer right away, weathering the storm. 
 
Playing from behind for the majority of the first half, the Bulldogs were able to take their first lead of the game (27-26) on an Enees Nikovic layup on a dish from senior forward Lorenzo Williams. 
 
The home team did not go down without a fight, retaking the lead on a three-point make with just over five minutes to go in the first half. 
 
Trailing 33-31 with 2:51 left in the first half, the Bulldogs would go on a 6-0 run before time expired.  Senior guard Egzon Gjonbalaj scored two of the three buckets during the run. Senior guard Jamel Gist stole the ball from the Trojans on their last offensive possession of the half, giving the Bulldogs the 37-33 halftime advantage.
 
Right out of gate in the second half, the Trojans once again attempted to protect their home court, knocking down a three on their first offensive possession of the period. Similar to the first half, the Bulldogs answered right away, but this time around, they already possessed the lead. 
 
A 10-0 run after the Trojans' opening shot, gave the Bulldogs a 45-38 advantage with 18 minutes left in the game.  The Bulldogs grabbed their first double-digit lead of the game a minute and a half later. 
 
The Trojans pulled within a possession with 11:29 remaining in the game.  However, the Bulldogs responded, extending it to a two-possession game until they found themselves leading by only two points (73-71) with 6:04 to go.
 
After exchanging missed shots, the Bulldogs pushed their lead back up to six on an Egzon Gjonbalaj lay-in and two Jamel Gist made free-throws. 
 
Brooklyn was able to protect their lead until time expired, by continually responding offensively right after a momentum building CWR play. 
 
Senior forward Lorenzo Williams led all scorers with 26 points.  He also grabbed seven rebounds in 37 minutes of action.  For the second evening in a row, Egzon Gjonbalaj scored 20+ points finishing with 24 points tonight, giving him an average of 22 points for the tournament.  Senior guard Edon Gjonbalaj picked up a double-double for the Bulldogs, finishing with ten points and 12 rebounds. 
 
Free throw makes especially towards the end of the game was the difference in favor of BC.  The Bulldogs shot 26-36 from the charity stripe to the Trojans' 12-25.