Chicago, Ill. - After taking a week off for final exams, the Roosevelt men's basketball team returns to the hardwood this weekend at the two-day 2011 Crusader Classic hosted by Madonna University. The Lakers open the event on Friday against the host Crusaders at 6:00 p.m. central. Roosevelt will then take on either Marygrove or Goshen on Saturday in the tournament consolation or championship match at 12:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.

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Roosevelt went 0-3 in a busy week, dropping back-to-back Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference crossover contests at Purdue Calumet and Calumet-St. Joseph, before suffering falling at #4 Grace on Saturday. The Lakers are now 2-6 on the season. Senior Paul Tometich scored 24 points in the three games to lead the team in scoring.

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Roosevelt will be facing a red hot team playing on its home floor when the Lakers square off with the Crusaders at the 2011 Crusader Classic. Madonna has rattled off eight straight wins and has moved up to No. 21 in the NAIA Division II poll. The Crusaders are led by sophomore point guard Bobby Naubert, who is averaging 16.7 points and 7.8 assists per game. He is aided by Travis Schuba, also a sophomore, who is tallying 16.0 points and 4.3 rebound per outing. Noel Emenhiser is in his sixth season as head coach at Madonna.

Friday marks the first-ever meeting between Roosevelt and Madonna.

The Mustangs head into the 2011 Crusader Classic with a record of 5-8 and fresh off a 73-56 victory over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member IU South Bend. Darryll Dixon led Marygrove with 22 points in the contest. Overall this season, the Mustangs are paced by 6-foot-7 forward Omar Thomas, who is averaging team-bests of 19.0 points and 8.5 rebound per game. Marygrove is under the direction of head coach Dave Sichterman.

Saturday would mark the first-ever meeting between Roosevelt and Marygrove should the team's meet.

The only team hotter in the NAIA right now than Madonna might be Goshen as the 12^th-ranked Maple Leafs head into the Crusader Classic having won their last 11 games, including a 76-74 triumph over #8 Indiana East in their last outing. Freshman Kody Chandler leads Goshen in scoring at 14.3 points per game, while 6-foot-9 center Mike Bechter chips in with 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per outing.

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With senior Tyler Smith scoring a game-high 11 points in the Lakers' loss at Grace on Saturday, Dec. 10, Roosevelt has now had seven different individuals lead the team in scoring in its eight games this season. This is drastically different than last season when just four different players led the team in scoring in its 27 games.

Head Coach Joe Griffin will have plenty of supporters in the stands when he returns to his home state this weekend as the Lakers participate in the Crusader Classic hosted by Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. Griffin was born in Flint, Mich., and later graduated from Romeo High School. Griffin is a graduate of Michigan State, where he later served as a graduate assistant coach under Tom Izzo.

Senior Mark Tometich has been efficient and accurate from behind the three-point line this season. The 6-foot-2 guard is netting 46 percent of his triple tries and leads the team with 12 overall three-pointers made.

Twin brothers Paul and Mark Tometich have given plenty of support to the Lakers this season with the duo combining for 18.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Paul leads the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game.