Tyrese Martin Leads East To College All-Star Game Victory
NEW ORLEANS, La. – UConn senior guard Tyrese Martin led all scorers with 22 points as the East squad, featuring he and UConn teammate R.J. Cole, defeated the West, 115-103, in the NABC-Reese’s College All-Star Game.
The game was held Friday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans as part of Final Four weekend festivities.
Martin scored his game-high 22 on 9-of-17 shooting, including a few rim-rattling slam dunks, a three-pointer, and 3-of-4 from the foul line. He also had 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
Cole joined Martin as two of six double-figure scorers on the East team with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a three-pointer, 4-of-5 from the foul line and he handed out 4 assists.
The East jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never trailed. The East scored eight straight to take its largest lead of the half, 45-34, with five minutes left in the first half with Martin scoring five of the eight points. The East led 55-45 at halftime behind 11 points from D’Shawn Schwartz of George Mason.
A 14-4 second half run by the East would increase its lead to 85-69 with 11:35 left. The East would lead by at least 10 the rest of the way.
Grant Golden of Richmond was named the East MVP with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Kansas State’s Mark Smith was the MVP for the West as he finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
Liberty coach Ritchie McKay was the winning East coach, while the West team was coached by Missouri’s Dennis Gates.
Cole (15.8) and Martin (13.8) were two of UConn’s top three scorers this season. Cole was also the team leader in assists (4.1), while Martin was the team’s second-leading rebounder (7.5). Cole was named First Team All-BIG EAST, while Martin was a BIG EAST All-Tournament Team pick and both were selected to the USBWA All-District I Team.
Cole and Martin will also team up, along with Creighton’s Ryan Hawkins and All-Star Game teammate Schwartz, for the Dos Equis 3x3 National Championship this weekend at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans.
