Big Ten Men’s Foreign Tour Fall in Opener

The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Foreign Tour team opened its 2006 tour with a 117-91 loss to the West Sydney Razorbacks Basketball Club in Australia on Saturday. Minnesota center Jonathan Williams had a team-best 13 rebounds in the loss.

Marcus Arnold of Illinois led the squad in scoring with 18 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field, while Ohio State’s Ron Lewis and Michigan’s Jerret Smith followed with 16 and 11 points, respectively. Michigan’s Lester Abram, Northwestern’s Tim Doyle and Purdue’s Gordon Watt each scored nine points apiece. All 11 players scored at least two points in the contest. Indiana’s Roderick Wilmont had 12 boards, including 10 defensive rebounds. Jonathan Williams scored four points as he made one of seven from the field and two of four from the line to go along with his 13 caroms.

The Big Ten squad did not show any sluggishness at the opening tip, notching two quick baskets in the first minute. However, the Razorbacks came back quickly to outscore the Big Ten standouts, 35-19, in the first stanza. The West Sydney team maintained its momentum through the next three quarters, never allowing the Big Ten Foreign Tour team to post a rally and ensure the Razorbacks a 117-91 victory.

The Big Ten contingent resumes competition against the Sydney Kings on Sunday. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time. For tour results, stats, photos and entertaining diaries of the student-athletes, log on to www.bigten.org.