CASE 84, THIEL 58...
CLEVELAND, OH (December 5, 2005) - Case Western Reserve University senior guard Funso Lafe-pictured (Chesterland, OH), a local Hawken High School product, led three Spartans in double digits tonight with a game high 18 points as Case defeated visiting Thiel College 84-58 in Horsburgh Gym at the Veale Center. 
The Spartans improve to 5-1 on the season and host Grove City College this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Case is off to their best start in 20 years. The last time was the 1984-85 season when they began 8-1.
Thiel jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first half and continued to have the advantage until the 6:18 mark when senior guard Funso Lafe made a lay up to tie the game at 26-26 and was fouled. Lafe, who had 14 points in the first 20 minutes, hit the free throw to give the Spartans the lead (27-26), something they took into half 39-28. Senior forward Carson Oren (South Bend, IN) had 11 rebounds in the first half as Case out rebounded the Tomcats 30-16. He finished the game with his fifth consecutive double-double with a game high 15 boards and 11 points.
Thiel battled back to bring it within seven, 39-32 at the 18:52 mark in the second, but Case went on to outscore the Tomcats 45-26 to win their third straight. Freshman forward Tyler Rodriguez (Colleyville, TX) led the Spartans in the second half, scoring 13 of his 16 points as his team shot 54.8 percent from the field. Thiel shot just 27.1 percent from the field in the game and were out rebounded 58-26 by Case. The Tomcats, who fall to 1-4 on the season were led by sophomore guard Jason Manningham’s (Oakland, CA) 12 points.
Box Score
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