The Father Tolton Trailblazers used a commanding performance in the third quarter to turn a close game into a blowout, beating the Joplin Eagles 78-39 on Monday at the Great 8 Classic.
After Tolton jumped ahead 24-12 after one quarter, Joplin shaved off two points in the second quarter and went into the locker room down just 38-28.
The Eagles and the near-capacity crowd at Fleming Fieldhouse didn't know it, but the game would be over soon after that.
The Trailblazers came storming out of intermission and put on a clinic in the third quarter. Tolton hit 11-of-14 shots (79 percent) in the frame - Joplin made just 1-of-11 (9 percent) - and forced the Eagles into nine turnovers. By the time it was all over, the Trailblazers had outscored the Eagles 29-2 to head to the fourth quarter up 67-30.
Tolton outscored Joplin 11-9 in the fourth quarter, which had a running clock throughout due to the mercy rule.
Michael Porter Jr., the nation's third-ranked junior as determined by ESPN, lived up to his billing. The 6-foot-9 guard/forward racked up game highs in both points (36) and rebounds (13) before departing early in the fourth quarter.
Kenan Brooks joined Porter in double figures for Tolton by scoring 14 points. Porter's younger brother, Jontay, recorded eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
Dineji Olaniyan was the only Eagle to score in double figures, as he tossed in 15 points.
Tolton advances to a winner's bracket semifinal at 8:30 p.m. today against Kettering (Ohio) Fairmont, while Joplin will take on Jefferson City in a loser's bracket semifinal at 5:30 p.m.