Box Score
At any time, it would have been understood if the inexperience that dotted the John Carroll men's basketball roster would have shown up.

But then again, maybe the youthful Blue Streaks simply did not know any better.

In a slugfest punctuated by the two teams combining for 26 treys, the upstart John Carroll Blue Streaks outlasted the #12 ranked Birmingham-Southern Panthers, 87-83, in the opening round of the Christopher Newport University Point Plaza Invitational Saturday in Newport News, Virginia.

The Panthers returned four starters and many other significant pieces from a team that finished 25-3 last season and #21 in the final d3hoops.com poll. The Blue Streaks returned just one starter and three other players who saw significant time as part of the 2012 OAC Championship squad.

It was hard to tell the difference between the two teams given neither enjoyed a lead of larger than seven points.

The Panthers threatened to run away early, opening up an 8-2 lead in the opening minutes. But the Blue Streaks weatehred the storm and scored 31 of the next 49 points.  A fast break basket by Jake Hollinger at the 5:43 mark gave the Streaks a 33-26 advantage.

Birmingham-Southern made a run towards the end of the period that left the score knotted at 40-40 when the teams headed to the locker room.

On several occasions, Birmingham-Southern seemed poised to land the haymaker, but could never extend its lead beyond four points. After Schyler Freeman's lay-up made the score 78-74 in favor of the Panthers, it would be John Carroll that supplied the haymakers.

Danny Wallack supplied the first two. His back-to-back threes turned a 78-74 deficit into an 80-78 lead.

Then David Hendrickson drained yet another long range bomb after Birmingham-Southern split a pair of free throws to make the score 83-79 with 2:06 to play.

From that point, Ryan Angers -- one of the few regular players back for JCU -- sealed the game with 4-4 free throw shooting down the stretch.

John Carroll (2-1) was led by 19 points from Kyle Hubbard, who was 7-13 from the field including 3-4 from three-point range. Wallack and William Starks each tallied 11 points, while Jordan Murphy chipped in 10. As a team, the Blue Streaks were 31-66 (.470) from the field and 12-29 (.414) from the three-point line. In the second half, JCU made 9-17 (.529) from long range.

The Streaks also won the battle of the boards, 37-27.

Birmingham-Southern (2-2) was paced by Kevin Kegarise, who led all players with 21 points. Larry Taylor added 19 for the Panthers, who were 27-51 (.529) from the field and 14-30 (.467) from three-point range.

JCU will face the host Christopher Newport Captains in the championship game Sunday at 4:00 pm at the CNU freeman Center. Christopher Newport survived the longest game in program history to reach the final, knocking off Wesley, 81-79, in four overtimes.