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On a Bender

Bulldog recruit sets scoring record at McDonald's game

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Posted: Thursday March 25, 1999 12:33 AM

The East's Joseph Forte (left) drives past the West's Casey Jacobsen. AP

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Jonathan Bender scored 31 points -- eclipsing Michael Jordan's record of 30 points for the McDonald's All-American game -- as the West beat the East 141-128 Wednesday night.

"I just can't say enough. It's unbelievable," said Bender, who is from Picayune (Miss.) Memorial High School and has signed with Mississippi State. "I can't believe I match up with the greatest."

Carlos Boozer of Juneau-Douglas (Alaska) High School and Stanford recruit Casey Jacobsen of Glendora, Calif., each added 22 points for the West team. Home crowd favorite Nick Collison, of nearby Iowa Falls, added 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting.

Jason Williams of St. Joseph's high school in Plainfield, N.J., and one of three Duke recruits playing in the game, led the East with 20 points. DeMarr Johnson had 19 and Damien Wilkins -- son of Gerald Wilkins of the Orlando Magic -- and Keith Bogans each added 18.

Bogans will play at Kentucky next year, as will Marvin Stone, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the East.

Joining Williams at Duke next year will be East-team member Casey Sanders and Michael Dunleavy Jr., son of Portland Trailblazers coach Mike Dunleavy, who had 13 points and a game-high five steals.

"I roomed with Casey Sanders, and Mike Dunleavy was coming down all the time," Williams said. "It was good to really get to know those guys. They're good guys and really funny."

The game was a flurry of long-range 3-pointers and showy dunks, with little time for either team to set a defense or run an offense.

Bender had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, and when the crowd of 10,993 realized he was closing in on Jordan's 1981 record, they started cheering for his teammates to get him the ball.

"Then I started to get excited," he said. "I got jitters in my stomach and everything."

 

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