Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Junior forward Michael Drake (Little Rock, Ark., Catholic HS) scored 14 of his career-high 23 points in the second half to lead the Christian Brothers University Bucs to a 79-72 win over St. Mary's Sunday night in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic.

The Bucs (8-2) appeared headed for a lopsided win early when Trey Casey (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle HS) capped a 13-0 run with a layup to give the Bucs a 17-6 lead with 10:55 remaining in the first half.  The Rattlers (4-4) answered with an 18-3 run, taking their biggest lead of the night at 24-20 on an Isaiah Matthews three-point play with 2:53 remaining in the half.

The Bucs regained the lead quickly, but they were unable to pull away until late in the game.  After a pair of free throws from Kevin Kotzur pulled the Rattlers within one point at 55-54 with 6:08 remaining, the Bucs went on a 12-3 run to put it away.  Zack Warner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton HS) knocked down a triple to start the run, and a Scott Dennis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) layup ended it with the Bucs on top 67-57 with 4:14 remaining.  Between, the Bucs were 7-of-8 from the free throw line.  Dennis made a pair of free throws after a technical foul on the Rattlers bench, and Drake was 5-of-6 in the stretch, including both free throws after St. Mary's forward Brad Hubenak was ejected for a flagrant foul on Drake with 4:15 remaining.  The Rattlers never came closer than four points again down the stretch.

Drake was a sizzling 6-of-7 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free throw line, making one of his two three-pointers.  Dennis added 22 points with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, making 11-of-12 at the free throw line.  Warner scored 17 with seven rebounds and four assists, and Harry Green (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) tacked on 10 points.

Daryell Taylor led the Rattlers with 15 points.  Kotzur scored 13 with 10 rebounds, and Moses Sundufu added 13 with seven rebounds.

The Bucs shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47), their third straight game above 50 percent from the floor.  The Rattlers shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) overall and 45 percent (9-of-20) from three-point range.  The Rattlers' 72 points marked the first time the Bucs have allowed an opponent to reach 70 points since a 72-59 loss to Arkansas-Monticello Feb. 3.  The Rattlers' 46 second-half points were the most allowed by the Bucs in a half since allowing 48 in the second half of a 73-66 win over Montevallo Dec. 30, 2010.  The Rattlers out-rebounded the Bucs 32-28, and each team committed 10 turnovers.

After taking a break for Christmas, the Bucs wrap up their pre-conference schedule Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. when they visit New Orleans.  Their next home game is Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. against West Alabama.