Box Score MEMPHIS—Christian Brothers Univeristy sophomore guard Scott Dennis (Cincinnati, Ohio, Sycamore HS) celebrated his 20th birthday with career highs of 20 points and 21 rebounds as the Bucs won 72-55 over LeMoyne-Owen Saturday.

After trailing by as many as 14 points late in the first half, the Bucs (8-3) went on a 21-0 run sandwiching the halftime break to regain control of the game.

The Magicians (3-2) took a 36-22 lead on back-to-back fast-break baskets by Taurean Moy and Maurice Mickens.  After a Dennis three-pointer cut the lead to 11, Mickens made another layup to put LOC ahead 38-25 with 1:22 remaining in the first half.

The run started quietly, with Zack Warner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton HS) making a free throw with 1:09 remaining in the half, and Dennis cut the margin to 10 with a put-back layup as time expired in the first half.

The Bucs wasted little time in the second half, with three straight three-pointers, one from Dennis and then two by Michael Drake (Little Rock, Ark./Catholic HS).  Dennis scored on a fast-break layup after a spectacular crossover move to put the Bucs back in front at 39-38 with 16:59 remaining.  Warner followed with a payup and two free throws, and Drake made another three with 14:44 remaining to give the Bucs a 46-38 edge.

The Magicians cut the lead to 50-45 on a Moy three-pointer with 10:39 remaining, but the Bucs pounded the ball inside to put it away.  Three straight baskets in the paint from Warner and Kyle Couvion (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville HS) sparked an 18-5 run.  Drake scored a layup, and Dennis threw down a dunk along with three-pointers by Couvion and #Alex Rogers) as the Bucs opened up a 68-50 lead with 2:40 remaining.

Dennis set new career highs with 20 points and 21 rebounds, and he added five assists, three steals, and two blocks in 40 minutes.  Dennis was 8-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-3 from three-point range.  His previous career highs were 18 points against North Alabama Nov. 28 and 15 rebounds against UNA Nov. 15.

Drake scored 18 points in 23 minutes off the bench, and Warner had 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 40 minutes.  Couvion scored 10, while Dylan Heim (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan HS) scored four points in four minutes in his final game with the Bucs before he graduates.

Ladarius Johnson led the Magicians with 19 points, six rebounds, and five steals in 34 minutes.  Maurice Mickens added 13.

Both teams' shooting was drastically different in each half.  The Bucs were a frigid 27.3 percent (9-of-33) from the floor in the first half, including 25 percent (5-of-20) from beyond the arc, while the Magicians built the lead on 55.2 percent (16-of-29) shooting.  In the second half, it was the Bucs' turn, shooting a blistering 66.7 percent both from the field (16-of-24) and three-point range (6-of-9).  The Magicians were just 16.7 percent (4-of-24) overall and 10 percent (1-of-10) from three-point range.

For the game, the Bucs shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) to LOC's 37.7 percent (20-of-53).

CBU out-rebounded LOC 38-30, including a 14-11 edge in offensive rebounds.  CBU forced 14 turnovers while committing 13.

The Bucs close out their 2009 schedule Monday night at 7:30 p.m. as they visit Missouri-St. Louis.