Following the Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Tournament and the naming of the Most Valuable Player, the entire 2017-18 All-tournament team has been announced.
Nazareth – Tyler Stenglein (MVP), Jake Burgio
Utica – Avery Coston
Alfred – Scotty Stopera
Stevens – Jayson Winick
The 2018 E8 Tournament was filled with excitement as all three games were decided by a total of four points and last second shots.
Stenglein was named the tournament MVP as he averaged 16.5 points on 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from the field with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He had 21 points (7-for-12), four rebounds and two assists in Nazareth's 73-72 semifinal win over Alfred. He then had 12 points, including scoring the game-winning bucket with three seconds remaining to help lift Nazareth to the Empire 8 title in a 66-64 defeat of Utica. He had six rebounds, three assists and four steals in the game.
Burgio averaged 23.5 points and 6.5 rebounds during the tournament. He shot 51.4 percent from the field (19-of-37) and 50 percent from the arc (4-of-8). Burgio was one of five players in double figures in the semifinal game as he finished with a game high 26 points. Against Utica in the title game he finished with a game high 21 points and six rebounds.
Coston averaged 11.5 points and made the biggest basket of his young career in the tournament. Coston scored nine points points in the semifinal against Stevens, including the game winning buzzer-beater three-pointer to send the Pioneers to its first E8 final since 2007. In the championship game against Nazareth, Coston was one of four Pioneers to finish in double figures as he totaled 14 points and five rebounds. Coston shot 57.1 percent (8-of-4) from the field and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the arc throughout the tournament.
Winick was Stevens leading scorer in the semifinal game against Utica as he finished with 16 poits (6-of-11), while grabbing five rebounds. He was won of two Stevens players to finish in double-digits as the Ducks fell to the Pioneers in the semifinal on a last second shot. Winick also recorded two blocks and one steal.
Stopera and the Saxons fought back from a nine-point deficit to start the second half of play in the semifinal against Nazareth and brought the game to within one point after a good 3-pointer from Stopera with four seconds remaining to play. Stopera was fouled on the shot and went to the line to tie the game at 73 but hit rim, leading to a Saxon rebound and the attempt at a jumper as time expired, with the unfortunate result of not going in. Stopera finished the game with team-high 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range.