Brandon Wood went an entire half without scoring and the world did not end for the Valparaiso University men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon.
Wood scored 12 second-half points and Cory Johnson added a career-high 26 points as the Crusaders knocked off NCAA Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith 86-74 at the Legends Classic in Statesboro, Ga.
"We want Brandon to become a complete basketball player, not just a scorer," VU coach Homer Drew said. "He had seven rebounds, two steals, just a good all-around performance."
The Crusaders went 2-1 in the Statesboro Subregional after falling 90-60 to No. 2 Michigan State last Sunday in their first game of the Legends Classic. Florida knocked off Rutgers 71-58 in Atlantic City on Saturday night to win the tournament.
"We got three games in three days and we got a lot of experience for our young basketball team," Drew said. "This made us into a better basketball team, not to mention that it's 68 degrees and we don't think we're going to come home."
While the Lions (1-6) have struggled in their transition to Division II after winning two national championships on the junior college level, Drew said there was plenty to gain from the victory.
"People will look at them and see Division II, but they have three guys that could start in the Horizon League without question," Drew said. "We were able to get the lead and extend it in the second half, but they never went away."
Drew shuffled his starting lineup, choosing to bring fifth-year senior Brandon McPherson off the bench, and sophomore Erik Buggs started.
Freshman Ryan Broekhoff started but only played six minutes because of an ankle injury suffered on Saturday. Tommy Kurth (broken nose) did not suit up for the Crusaders.
McPherson played 31 minutes off the bench and scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half. Howard Little scored 10 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
"The nice thing is that we have balance," Drew said. "Last night Cory struggled and tonight he was 12-of-16 (from the field). Brandon (Wood) is being marked wherever he goes now and that allows for other people to score."
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Valparaiso University 86, Arkansas-Fort Smith 74
Cory Johnson scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Crusaders.
More online
Check out more coverage of Valparaiso University sports at my.nwi.com/vusports.
