Virginia Wins the Roman Legends Classic Trophy

November 23, 2021

NEWARK, N.J. – Tournament MVP Jayden Gardner hit 8 of his 9 shots from the field and all five of his free throw attempts to score 21 points to go with 13 rebounds to lead Virginia to a 58-40 win over previously unbeaten Providence in the championship game of the Roman Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper.

The Cavaliers (4-2) have won seven of their last eight November tournaments.

Virginia held a 30-15 lead at intermission and led 40-23 with 15:20 left after Kihei Clark hit a 3-pointer. Providence answered with a 13-2 run sparked by eight straight points from Noah Horchler. Brycen Goodine’s 3 with 10:50 left pulled the Friars within six points, 42-36, but they would managed just four points the rest of the way.

Armaan Franklin added 14 points for Virginia. Clark added 10 points and dished five assists to garner all-tournament team accolades. Kadin Shedrick grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots.

Horchler scored 14 points and pulled down seven boards to lead Providence (5-1), which hit just 12 of 51 shots from the field, 3 of 22 from 3-point range to be named to the all-tournament team, along with teammate Aljani Durham, who scored 10 points.

In the consolation game, Boo Buie had 22 points and six assists, Ryan Young added 17 points and Northwestern beat Georgia 78-62.

Northwestern led by as many as 24 points in the second half. Georgia got it within 11 points twice in the final five minutes but the Wildcats kept their double-digit advantage throughout the second half.

Pete Nance had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Ty Berry scored 10 points for Northwestern (5-1). Buie, coming off a career-high 23 points in a loss to Providence, was 8 of 21 from the field. He earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

Ryan Greer highlighted the first half with a steal and heave at midcourt that banked in to give Northwestern a 43-23 lead. The Wildcats made eight 3-pointers in the first half, while Georgia was 1 of 12.

Braelen Bridges and Kario Oquendo each scored 12 points for Georgia (2-4). Jailyn Ingram and Aaron Cook added 10 points apiece.

Georgia topped it first-half scoring total in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The Bulldogs made 11 of 18 shots to start the second half after going 6 for 26 in the entire first half.