Incarnate Word Tops Manhattan in CBI Tournament Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Incarnate Word secured a thrilling 92-85 victory over Manhattan in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament at the Ocean Center on Sunday, led by an impressive double-double performance from their standout player.

Cameron Hayman dominated the court, scoring 25 points and grabbing seven rebounds. His performance was crucial in pushing Incarnate Word (18-16) into the quarterfinals, where they are set to face Jacksonville on Monday.

Alongside Hayman, teammate Brian Pyke also made a significant contribution, finishing the game with 23 points and adding 11 rebounds to complement his efforts. However, some shooting struggles were evident as a key player managed just 18 points on 5-for-18 shooting, making only 4 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Manhattan Jaspers (17-14) fought valiantly, with their offense led by Jalen Hodge, who posted 17 points and secured eight rebounds. Teammates Samir Dinkins and Christian Dingle both scored 15 points, with Dinkins further contributing with four assists.

This victory marks a crucial step for Incarnate Word, who aim to make a deeper run in the postseason with upcoming challenges, including the matchup against Jacksonville. The support from fans and the performance of key players will be essential as they advance through the tournament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report using technology provided by Data Skrive, along with data from Sportradar.