Box Score

Towson, Md. - It was a record-setting night for senior guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) who poured in a school, career, and tournament record 51 points in leading No. 20 St. Mary's College of Maryland to its second consecutive Pride of Maryland title as the Seahawks remain undefeated with an 89-77 triumph over Hood College in championship game of the Pride of Maryland Championship presented by M&T Bank hosted by Goucher College Sunday night.

Repeating as the tournament MVP, Griffin set the tournament records for most points in a tournament (78), most points in a game (51), and most points in a half (27) as well as establishing tournament records for most free throws made in a game (19) and most free throws attempted in a game (21).

Griffin scored 13 straight points in a four-minute span in the second half to help the Seahawks (3-0) erase a seven-point deficit and claim a brief 61-60 lead at 9:55.  Hood's junior guard Reco Siler (Suitland, Md./Forrestville Military Academy) converted two free throws for the Blazers' last lead of the game, 62-61, at 9:18.

Sophomore guard James Davenport (Owings Mills, Md./Loyola Blakefield) sparked a 14-4 Seahawk run that was capped by Griffin's three-point play, giving SMCM a nine-point lead with 5:01 left in the game.  Down the stretch, Hood (2-1) came within 79-74 at 3:11 before six consecutive points from Griffin extended the reigning champions' lead to 11 at 1:12.  Griffin made the last basket of the game for the final 89-77 score.

Joining Griffin in receiving all-tournament honors were repeat performer, junior guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal Gibbons), and sophomore forward Brian Grashof (Philadelphia, Pa./Downingtown West).  Franz added 13 points and seven assists in the win while Grashof picked up 10 points off the bench, shooting 5-of-6 from the floor.  Junior forward Johann Jones (Severn, Md./Meade Senior) grabbed eight boards to pace the Seahawk rebounding.

St. Mary's held a marginal 43-42 halftime lead as the Blazers used a 10-3 run in the final five minutes of the first half to overcome an eight-point setback.  Sophomore guard Brenden Straughn (New Carrollton, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) capped the run with a three-point shot at 00:22 while junior guard Byron Morgan (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) blocked St. Mary's final shot attempt of the half.

Siler and senior forward J'Air Brady (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) each tallied 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting to pace Hood.  Junior center Tyler Snoots (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) recorded a double-double on 13 points and a game-high 12 boards along with four blocks while Straughn finished with 11 points.

The Seahawks will be idle until after the Thanksgiving break when St. Mary's travels to Lancaster, Pa. to take on No. 6 Franklin & Marshall College in non-conference action on Monday, November 30 at 7:30 pm.  Last season, Franklin & Marshall finished fourth in the 2009 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.  

2009 Pride of Maryland Championship presented by M&T Bank Tournament MVP:
Camontae Griffin, St. Mary's 

2009 Pride of Maryland Championship presented by M&T Bank All-Tournament Team
St. Mary's: Alex Franz, Brian Grashof
Hood: Brenden Straughn, Tory Wilson
Johns Hopkins: Pat O'Connell
Salisbury: Greg Palmer
McDaniel: Miguel Jones
Washington (Md.): Andrew Chambers
Goucher: Shane Yambor
Stevenson: Greg Collins