Will Bowers scored a season-high 22 points to pace No. 5 Archbishop Spalding to a 61-57 victory over Champlain St. Lambert of Montreal in the opening round of the First Flyin' to the Hoop National Holiday Invitational Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, yesterday.

Bowers, the Cavaliers' 7-foot center who is headed to the University of Maryland, also had seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

"The difference in the game was the second period when we outscored them 22-9 and had an 11-0 run to end the first half," said Spalding coach Mike Glick, whose team also had a 19-for-27 advantage from the foul line. St. Lambert (15-3) was 6-for-10 .

"Having an eight-point lead [32-24] to start the second half meant a lot," Glick said.

Spalding (13-3) plays 6:15 tonight vs. Our Savior America of New York in the national bracket of the tournament.

Spalding junior forward Rudy Gay scored 17 points, matched Bowers in rebounds and blocks, and also had five steals.

Ford scores 1,000th point

Senior Essien Ford had 33 points in Loyola's 62-60 loss to John Carroll on Friday to become the ninth Don in 35 years to reach 1,000 career points.

Ford, averaging 19.1 points per game, has 1,008 career points.