Senior Rob Weiss goes to the hoop in Newman Invitational Tournament action on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Anyone hoping that Newman Coach Jimmy Tillette’s previous affiliation with the Jesuit High School basketball program (Tillette served as an assistant to Duane Reboul for seven years) would translate into a favorable draw in the Newman Invitational Tournament had to be disappointed when the brackets were released. The Jays drew defending champion Helen Cox.

If the players were disappointed, it certainly didn’t show. Jesuit gave the Cougars everything they could handle. The Jays scrapped and clawed their way to a near draw after three quarters of play. Jesuit even had the ball with under 20 seconds left in the third quarter and a chance to tie or go ahead with a three-pointer. But a turnover led to two Cox points and a four-point deficit heading into the fourth.

Hopes of an upset faded in the final eight minutes as the Cougars pulled away for a 60-51 victory on Wednesday,  Dec. 9, at the Palestra on Newman’s campus.

In the end, it was the size of the Cougar front line that did the Jays in, particularly 6-foot-4 senior and University of Louisiana at Lafayette signee Roydell Brown, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.

Senior Rob Weiss posted a double double for the Jays, scoring 22 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Jesuit is now 2-5 on the season. The Jays return to action on Thursday, Dec. 10, for a consolation bracket game against John Ehret. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in the Tuohy Gym on Newman’s campus.

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TheNewOrleansAdvocate.com – Helen Cox outbattles Jesuit 60-51 in Newman Invitational