San Antonio – Allen Coleman scored a career-high 23 points to lead St. Mary’s University to a spirited second half comeback and a 66-63 win over Cameron University in the final game of the St. Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic, Saturday night at Bill Greehey Arena.

Coleman (Sr., Corpus Christi) hit on 10-of-14 shots from the field to lead all players in the game and set a career high. He also dished out five assists, had three steals, pulled down four rebounds and blocked two shots in the game. The only other Rattler to score in double figures was Robert Owens (Jr., Oakwood), who had 15 points and five rebounds. Both players were named to the all-tournament team for their play.

Cameron controlled play in the first half, and took a 29-24 lead into the locker room. But the Rattlers took over in the second half, hitting on 53.8 percent (14-26) of their shots from the field and 70.0 percent (14-20) of their shots from the free throw line.

The Aggies led by as much as nine points in the early going of the second half and still led by four points after a three-point basket by Roosevelt Lovett with 11:29 left to play. However, the Rattlers outscored the Aggies 7-0 over the next two minutes to take the lead for good. Owens keyed the run with four points. St. Mary’s increased the lead to as much as seven points, but Cameron wouldn’t go away.

Back-to-back baskets by Lorenzo Anthony (Jr., San Antonio) and Latez Williams (Hamilton, Ohio) gave the Rattlers a six-point edge with just 1:57 left to play in the game. But Greg Morgan hit a jumper and Leslie Malone followed by hitting on three of four free throws to make it a one-point game with 41 seconds left. However, the Aggies missed their last three shots and Rod Bellard (Jr., Beaumont) and Coleman each hit a free throw to ice the game for the Rattlers.

With the win the Rattlers improved to 3-2 overall, while Cameron fell to 0-4. In the first game of the day, Paul Quinn College defeated Rhema Bible College, 93-72. St. Mary’s will hit the road for their next game, traveling to Warrensburg, Mo., to face the University of Central Missouri on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.

2007 St. Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team
Leslie Malone, Cameron
Cedric Brooks, Paul Quinn
Jazz Henderson, Paul Quinn
Allen Coleman, St. Mary’s
Robert Owens, St. Mary’s

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