ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, December 18, 1999

SALISBURY STATE DEFEATS ETOWN, 83-74, FOR SPRINT BLUE JAY CLASSIC TITLE, GROVE CITY FINISHES THIRD OVER DICKINSON, 73-69

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Salisbury State captured the Sprint Blue Jay Classic title by defeating host Elizabethtown in the championship game, 83-74, Saturday. Grove City defeated Dickinson, 73-69 in the consolation game to finish third in the tournament.

Dave Pifer (Sarver, PA/Freeport) led Grove City with 20 points, 11 of which came in the second half, in the day's first game. Pifer and Tanner Prosser (Brentwood, PA/Brentwood) each had four steals for the Wolverines. Dickinson held a tenuous 38-37 lead a halftime only to see Grove City outscore the Red Devils by five points in the second half.

Damon Finazzo (Erie, PA/McDowell) helped orchestrate the comeback by scoring 10 second half points, as opposed to two in the first half. Pat Roberts (Home, PA/Marion Center) and Dan Quinn (Uniontown, OH/Green) led Grove City with seven rebounds apiece. Tony Beers (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) led Dickinson with 14 points.

Salisbury State won the championship over Elizabethtown in a game which saw nine players reach double digits in scoring. Four Sea Gulls hit double figures, including Doug King (Salisbury, MD/Wicomico), who scored 17 points and went 10 for 10 from the foul line, Colin Exelby (Grand Rapids, MI/East Grand Rapids) with 16 points, Josh Merkel (Walkersville, MD/St. John's Prospect Hall) with 12 points on four three-pointers and Jason Campion (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Spalding) with 10 points.

Bob Porambo (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) led Elizabethtown with 22 points and 10 rebounds, Mark Sweet (Sadsburyville, PA/Coatesville) had 12 points and nine boards, Brian Loftus (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) scored a career-high 12 points, Matt Nikoloff (Grove City, PA/Grove City) scored 10 points and Brian Marquette (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) had 10 points for the Blue Jays.

Earning spots on the all-tournament team included Elizabethtown's Sweet, Grove City's Pifer, Salisbury State's Victor Jackson (Salisbury, MD/Wicomico), Dickinson's Billy Hagan (Media, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) and Elizabethtown's Porambo. Salisbury State's King earned Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.

At Elizabethtown, PA, Sprint Blue Jay Classic Tournament
Consolation Game

Championship Game

Tournament MVP: Doug King, Salisbury State
All-Tournament Team: Billy Hagan, Dickinson; Victor Jackson, Salisbury State; Dave Pifer, Grove City; Bob Porambo, Elizabethtown; Mark Sweet, Elizabethtown