Box score | Season stats

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The third-ranked SBU Bearcats roared over the Lake Superior State Lakers, winning 96-71 to take the Disney Tip-Off Classic. Matt Rogers led five Bearcats in double figures with 30 points and seven boards. Ryan Dougherty had a career high 17 points. Kurt Koenig had 12, Tomas Brock had 11 and Thijin Moses added 10, all coming in the second half.

With the SBU lead at 43-39, Dougherty hit a three with 3:30 left in the first half that keyed a run for Bearcats. SBU led at halftime 51-41 and blew the game open with hot shooting from outside in the first ten minutes of the second stanza. Moses, Koenig, Dougherty and Brock all hit threes in that stretch as the Bearcats pushed their lead to as much as 21 points. The 25-point ending margin was the Bearcats' largest spread of the game. The Bearcats shot 60% from the field for the game.

Scott Perkins had 18 points to lead the Lakers, who went 1-2 during the three-day classic.

SBU head coach Jeff Guiot believes his team is getting there, but is still learning. "This is a work in progress," he said after the game. "We're still learning. We played well enough to win in the first two games, but these are three quality teams that will go on to winning seasons. We're hoping to get where we were last season, but we're not there yet."

Rogers was named most outstanding player of the tournament. Moses joined Rogers on the all-tournament team along with Lake Superior's Perkins and Philadelphia's Russell Frederick. "Matt did an awesome job," said Guiot. "He's originally from Florida and lived there until age five. We did a good job getting him the ball, but we also extended the lead when he went out with three fouls."

The Bearcats (3-0) will return to regular season action on Monday, November 16, when they travel down Highway 13 to play at rival Drury. The tip against the Panthers is 7 p.m. from Weiser Gym in Springfield. The 'Cats will play an an exhibition contest against former Bearcat basketball alumni this Thursday, November 12 at 7 p.m. from the Meyer Sports Center. Admission is free but donations will be accepted to benefit SBU missions.