November 18, 2006

Chicago Defeats Coast Guard in Season Debut

CHICAGO -- Senior Jesse Meyer (Omaha, Neb./ Bellevue West) hit four of the Maroons' school record tying 16 three-point field goals as the University of Chicago men's basketball team tipped off the 2006-07 season with a 78-61 win over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the opening round of the Midway Classic Saturday at the Ratner Athletics Center.

Meyer hit four three-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 17 points, while senior Drew Adams (Elida, Ohio/ Elida) and junior Nate Hainje (Brownsburg, Ind./ Brownsburg) each made three shots from behind the arc.

Chicago (1-0) fell behind 6-0 before a Meyer free throw gave the Maroons the lead for good, 7-6. A long three-pointer by Adams in the closing seconds of the first half put Chicago up 42-26 at the break.

The Maroons outscored Coast Guard (0-1) 18-9 during the first 5:31 of the second stanza to take their largest lead of the evening, 60-35.

Coast Guard cut the gap to 11 points, 66-55, when Jeff Prebeck converted a three-point play at the 6:51 mark.

Meyer, senior Brandon Woodhead (Lincoln, Neb./ East), and senior Derek Brannon (Palo Alto, Calif./ Gunn) each sunk a three-point basket as Chicago outscored the Bears 9-4 during the game's final 5:28.

Hainje and Woodhead finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Chicago. Meyer pulled down 10 rebounds, while Hainje handed out six assists.

Prebeck paced Coast Guard with a game-high 20 points. Steve Blum added 15.

Box Score