NICEVILLE, FLA. — Sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, who led Ohio State to the championship of the Emerald Coast Classic, has been named the outstanding performer of the tournament.
Thronton collected 13 points, a career-high seven assists and grabbed a season-high five rebounds in the Buckeyes’ 86-56 victory past Santa Clara in the championship game Saturday. Thornton averaged 21.0 points and 5.5 assists in the two games.
Earlier, he finished with a career-high 29 points, including a career-high four three-pointers and was a career-best 13-of-14 from the free throw line, in Ohio State’s 92-81 semifinal win against No. 15 Alabama Friday.
Ohio State Roddy Gayle Jr., joined his teammate on the 10-man Emerald Coast Classic all-tournament team after averaging 15.5 points, while shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
Gayle Jr. scored a career-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, hitting 6-of-6 from the foul line in Ohio State’s win against Alabama. He also contributed four rebounds and a pair of assists. Gayle Jr. had eight points, four assists and three rebounds in the championship game.
Santa Clara guard Adama-Alpha Bal and center Christoph Tilly also were named to the all-tournament team along with Alabama senior guard Mark Sears and Oregon junior guard Keeshawn Barthelemy.
Bal had a career-high 25 points, along with five rebounds and three assists, in Santa Clara’s semifinal round game against Oregon. He scored 13 points in the championship against Ohio State. Tilly collected 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Oregon.
Barthelemy averaged 20.5 points in two games. He scored a season-high 24 points, while dishing out six assists against Alabama. Earlier, he tallied 17 points against Santa Clara.
Other players honored were forward Jalyn McCreary, Mercer; forward Roger McFarlane, Southeastern Louisiana; guard Kinyon Hodges, Tennessee State; and guard Seth Hubbard, Western Michigan.
2023 Emerald Classic All-Tournament Team
Bruce Thornton, Soph., G, Ohio State —Most Outstanding Player
Roddy Gayle Jr., Soph., G, Ohio State
Adama-Alpha Bal, Jr., G, Santa Clara
Christoph Tilly, Soph., C, Santa Clara
Mark Sears, Sr., G, Alabama
Keeshawn Barthelemy, Jr., G, Oregon
Seth Hubbard, Soph., G, Western Michigan
Jalyn McCreary, Sr., F, Mercer
Kinyon Hodges, Sr., G, Tennessee State
Roger McFarlane, Jr., G, Southeastern Louisiana
