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The Portsmouth Invitational tipped off yesterday and if you need to get your college basketball fix in for a couple of more days then you can catch all of their games streaming live. A doubleheader kicked off the event last night and here is a look at how your favorite mid-major starts performed in Virginia:
Norfolk Sports Club- 71 vs K&D Rounds Landscaping- 66
Norfolk Sports Club grabbed a win in the first game of the tournament behind 21 points and 5 rebounds from Buffalo's Javon McCrea. Providence's Kadeem Batts was the only other person on that team that posted in double-digits with 10 points and 8 rebounds on the night.
VCU's Juvonte Reddic may have the most to gain in Portsmouth as he entered the year as a possible first round pick in the NBA Draft. Reddic didn't have a bad season but he was exploited a bit in the paint and earned a label as being soft by many pundits. Reddic posted 9 points and 9 boards in his first outing last night.
Other mid-major players for NSC were Belmont's J.J. Mann (2-9, 4 pts, 0 rebs), Loyola Marymount's Anthony Ireland (4-7, 8 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assts), and Oral Robert's Shawn Glover (1-2, 5 pts, 3 rebs, 2 steals).
On the other side of the court for K&D Rounds Landscaping Oakland sharpshooter was the story and probably elevated his stock as a three point specialist in the league. Bader was the only person for K&D in double digits as he went 8-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from downtown for 24 points on the night.
Big men Augustine Rubit and Ronald Roberts Jr. disappointed a bit in their debut for K&D. Rubit, from South Alabama, was just 1-for-11 from the field and finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Roberts, a St. Joseph's product, finished with 2 points and 8 boards.
Delaware's Davon Usher, a late addition to the tournament, finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Roger Brown's Restaurant-77 vs Portsmouth Sports Club-74
Roger Brown's Restaurant may have the most notable mid-major names coming into the PIT but it was Middle Tennessee's Shawn Jones who posted the teams first double-double on Wednesday night with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Texas Southern big man Aaric Murray was right behind him with 7 points and 7 boards, while Taylor Braun from North Dakota State posted 9 points and just 4 rebounds.
Saint Louis' Jordair Jett got the start over UMass star Chaz Williams and he did not disappoint. Jett had 8 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals in RBR's win. Meanwhile Williams only played 17 minutes and did not take a shot from the floor. He did show his ability to distribute though with 7 assists. Southeast Missouri State's Tyler Stone came off the bench for 13 points and 6 boards, while Ohio's Nick Kellogg posted 5 points and 2 rebounds.
The Benimonster was unleashed for Portsmouth Sports Club as Towson's Jerrelle Benimon had a double-double of his own with 10 points and 14 rebounds. His fellow mid-major in the paint, Chattanooga's Z. Mason, had 13 points and 4 rebounds for PSC.
The guard tandem of Delaware's Devon Saddler and Mercer's Langston Hall were a bit disappointing as the two combined for 11 points and 6 assists.
Today's Schedule:
3:15 PM: K&D Landscaping vs Portsmouth Sports Club
7 PM: Mike Duman Auto Sales vs Sales System, LTD
9 PM: Portsmouth Partnership vs Cherry Bakaert