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Few Good Men captures thrilling opener at The Basketball Tournament

| June 30, 2018 12:09 AM

SPOKANE — Robert Upshaw’s blocked shot saved the game, and Matt Bouldin’s two free throws won it as Few Good Men edged Team Utah 84-83 in a Hoopfest Pod semifinal of The Basketball Tournament, a $2 million, winner-take-all tourney, on Friday night at Lewis and Clark High.

Few Good Men, comprised mostly of former Gonzaga standouts, will play Gael Force (alumni of Saint Mary’s) tonight at 7:30 at LC. Gael Force routed the Air Force Bomb Squad 82-54.

The Basketball Tournament uses the “Elam Ending” — at the first stoppage of play under the four-minute mark — officials would establish a “target score” by adding seven points to the score of the team that is leading, and turn off the game clock. The first team to that target score wins.

This game was tied at 77 when the Elam Ending went into effect.

Team Utah, leading 83-82, had a chance to win it, but Upshaw blocked a driving layup try. Few Good Men controlled the ball, and Bouldin was fouled at the other end under the basket, and sank both free throws.

Sam Dower led Few Good Men with 19 points. Dakarai Tucker of Team Utah led all scorers with 23.

Omar Samhan’s 17 points led a balanced Gael Force attack against the team of mostly former Air Force players.