Nov. 10, 2006

Columbia, MO -

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Matt Bell paced Army with 20 points as the Black Knights defeated the Stetson Hatters 80-68 Friday night at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo in the first game of the John Thompson Classic.

Stetson struggled to stop Army offensively, allowing the Black Knights to shoot 56.8 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range. Army forced Stetson into committing 17 turnovers.

Army's bench proved to be the difference, outscoring the Stetson bench 41-2.

Stetson kept the game close early on, but behind Army's outstanding three-point shooting, the Black Knights took the lead for good and extended their lead to as many as 16 points in the first half as the Black Knights took a 41-27 lead.

Army kept its pace in the second half and had a lead of 22 points (65-43). The Black Knights held off a late Stetson rally that brought the margin to ten before finishing off the Hatters 80-68.

Bell was 5-8 from the field, hitting both of his three-pointers, while going 8-9 from the free throw line. Jarell Brown hit 4-of-6 three-pointers and had 16 points on the night.

Gabe McMillen led the Hatters with 20 points, and Eric Diaz and Garfield Blair each added 16 points for Stetson.

Stetson faces North Carolina A&T Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the second day of action at the John Thompson Foundation Classic while Army takes on Missouri at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the Mizzou contest will work for both sessions of play.