The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Villanova Wildcats came to the Bahamas unranked in the new look Big East, but after defeating two of the top teams in the NCAA on consecutive nights, they emerged as the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis champions.

The Wildcats relished their role as underdogs for three days and with another dramatic finish, claimed the title with an 88-83 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the tournament finale at Atlantis’ Imperial Arena Saturday night.

In a thrilling finish which saw the Wildcats and Hawkeyes set 13 new championship records, James Bell was named tournament MVP and finished with 20 points and nine rebounds.

It was Bell whose trio of three pointers on consecutive possessions turned the game around late in the second half and was the catalyst tothe Villanova comeback effort.

Trailing 55-43, Bell’s jumpers single handedly brought the deficit to just three points in less than two minutes. He also came up with two game-sealing offensive rebounds in overtime as the Wildcats clinched the win at the line down the stretch.

The senior guard placed the MVP performance in perspective with the rare opportunity to play in front of his mother, Earika Bell, who lives in their hometown of Orlando, Florida.

“She lives in Florida, my school is in Pennsylvania so she really does’t get a chance to see me play, so it was a great opportunity,” Bell said. “It’s great to have that support system, but me and my teammates we’ve always been like a little family.”

Ryan Arcidiacono, fresh off his game-winning corner three to win the semifinal over Kansas, connected on two three pointers in the final 1:15 of regulation.

“We all knew it was going to be a challenge playing three games in three days, mentally it’s been a challenge, but it’s really been awesome.”

Along with Bell’s scoring outburst, freshman Josh Hart had 16 points off the bench, JayVaughn Pinkston scored 14 points, Arcidiacono finished with 13 and Kris Jenkins finished with 10, five in overtime.

Roy Devyn Marble led the Hawkeyes and set a new B4A championship record with a game high 24 points, Zach McCabe scored 14 and Mike Gesell added 10. Both Bell and Arcidiacono said they will remember their Battle 4 Atlantis experience for a series of memories, both on and off the court.

“It was just a great environment, everyone here has just been so nice, everyone was like ‘great shot, great game’ or ‘good luck tonight’ everywhere I went. Down here is just a lot more relaxed. It was new experience because I’ve never been to the Bahamas or anything like that,” Arcidiacono said.

“I didn’t really get a chance to walk around because I was resting my body a little bit, but I got a chance to go on the beach. I was really excited to go on the beach and see clear water for the first time and I thought it was cool. We have great memories here, we beat Kansas and beat Iowa to win the championship and I would love to come back even if it was just with my teammates, we did something that we will remember for a long time.”

Bell, Pinkston, McCabe and Devyn Marble were named to the all tournament team along with Perry Ellis of Kansas. It was the highest scoring championship game in B4A history. Both teams surpassed the record for three pointers made in a championship, with the Hawkeye’s 14 setting the new mark.

Wildcats’ head coach Jay Wright said he was proud of the early season

growth his team made over the course of the tournament.

“We’ve got a lot of heart. We’ve got good depth. Our young guys are growing up. Still only November, though. We’ve got a long way to go,” Wright said. “The tournament was well run, thanks to everybody at the Atlantis and in the Bahamas, it was an amazing experience and we had a great time.”

“This has been a gruelling three days, when you look at the calibre of

teams that are here and the preparation that goes into playing those

teams,” Hawkeyes’ head coach Frank McCaffrey said. “This game was two really good teams going after each other. That’s why you come here. We’re thrilled for the opportunity to be here in this environment.”