Blue Angels 103, Weber 86
OGDEN -- The good news is that Weber State's highly touted backcourt tandem of pre-season All-American Harold "The Show" Arceneaux and running mate Eddie Gill finally showed up for the Wildcats' exhibition season finale Tuesday night against The Son's Blue Angels.The bad news is that it didn't happen until the visitors had all but put the game away in cruising to a 103-86 victory over Weber State at Dee Events Center.
"I guess they hadn't read our press clippings on how good we're supposed to be," Weber State coach Joe Cravens quipped after the game.
In what looked more like an alumni game with four former Wildcats starting for the Blue Angels, the visiting team got in a groove from the start, shooting 53 percent from the field for the game, including a red-hot 62 percent (19 of 26) from 3-point land.
Arceneaux and Gill poured in 31 and 23 points, respectively, the bulk of which came in a series of second-half rallies, but it was not enough. Shawn Moore (10 points) was the only other Wildcat in double figures. The rest of the squad went just 10 of 24 (41 percent) from the field.
But it was with the Wildcats' defense that Cravens expressed concern after his team allowed five Blue Angels to score in double figures. James Washington led the way with 19 points, while former Weber State star Jimmy DeGraffenried chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.
"You don't give up 51 (points) in the first half and then 52 in the second and expect to do very well, " Cravens added, "When we don't shoot well, we don't seem to play (defense) well. It's something we know we have to overcome."
The Wildcat's will look for an answer to that problem as they travel to Alabama Saturday and take on the 0-2 Crimson Tide in Weber State's regular season opener.