BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. - The Apprentice School opened their 2008
U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association national quarterfinal game
against the tournament host Rhema Bible College with a 21-4 run and
never looked back in defeating the Eagles 76-61 on Thursday night.
That win for the Builders (16-13) puts them into a Friday
semifinal at 5 pm EST against sixth-seeded Oakwood University
Ambassadors who defeated third-seeded Robert Morris-Springfield
67-59. Rhema Bible won the last two USCAA National
Championships.
The Eagles scored the first bucket on a three-pointer from Tyron
Hall at the 18:47 mark, but the Builders started their 21-4 run on
a jumper from Antione Paige and finished in a jumper from Eric
Ruffin for a 21-7 advantage at the 10:58 mark.
Rhema made a run cutting the deficit to 24-16 with 3:36 left on
a Gabe White 3-pointer, but Apprentice School scored the next five
points and kept the margin in the mid teens throughout the half.
In the second half, the lead grew to as much as 23 points on a
Ruffin 3-pointer with 6:30 left to hold a 67-44 advantage.
The Builders lead never dropped below 13 points the rest of the
game.
"The guys knew we were going to be in for a tussle with Rhema
playing in their home gym and they opened the game with a strong
statement. I hope we can carry that start into tomorrow's
game," said Apprentice School coach Bill Tose.
Eric Joe was the leading scorer in the game for Apprentice
School with 18 points, while Fred Spratley added 14 and eight
rebounds, Eric Ruffin scored 13 with eight rebounds and six steals
and Jason Arrington added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Rhema was paced by Wade Rittenhouse with 16 points and they'll
face third-seeded Robert Morris-Springfield at 11 am EST..
APPRENTICE SCHOOL 76, RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE 61
RHEMA BIBLE (4-27): Pringle 0-4 4-5 4, Pratt 3-7 0-0 8, White
2-8 5-8 9, Igafo 1-5 0-0 3, Stewart 3-7 2-2 9, Goree 0-0 0-0 0,
Lewis 2-6 0-0 5, Slager 1-4 0-0 3, Rittenhouse 4-7 8-10 16, Hall
1-9 2-2 4, Kniess 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-57 21-27 61.
APPRENTICE SCHOOL (16-13): Smith 3-4 0-2 6, Ruffin 5-9 2-2 13,
Paige 3-6 0-0 7, Arrington 4-11 3-4 11, Joe 8-15 2-3 18, Cherry 0-3
1-2 1, Spratley 6-10 2-3 14, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 0-1 0,
Thompson 0-0 2-3 2, Archer 0-0 0-1 0, Washington 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson
1-2 0-0 2. Totals 31-61 12-21 76.
Halftime: Apprentice 37-22. 3-point goals: Rhema 6-26
(Pringle 0-1, Pratt 2-5, White 0-4, Igafo 1-4, Stewart 1-1, Lewis
1-1, Slager 1-4, Rittenhouse 0-2, Hall 0-4); Apprentice 2-7 (Ruffin
1-2, Paige 1-2, Arrington 0-2, Cherry 0-1). Rebounds: Rhema
40 (Rittenhouse 8); Apprentice 42 (Ruffin, Spratley 8). Total
fouls: Rhema 19, Apprentice 22. Fouled out: none.
Assists: Rhema 11 (Slager 3); Apprentice 20 (Arrington 6).
Att.: 582.
