Big Ben won the gold medal for the fourth straight year in basketball's elite Top Gun division last night at the Manoa Recreation Center.

With a now-familiar lineup that includes former University of Hawaii players like Kalia McGee, Jarinn Akana, and David Hallums, and former Hawaii Pacific University standouts Roger Huggins and Andy Gardiner, Big Ben scored a decisive 74-59 victory against Royal Guard Security.

Last year, the Big Ben defeated Royal Guard in the semifinal.

In the bronze medal game played earlier, Hawaiian Brian's, which lost to Big Ben in the 1995 final, defeated B Club, 93-89.

It was a close final through most of the first half and at one juncture, Royal Guard pulled within a point - 19-18. But 30-year-old Hallums stepped up to can two straight 3-pointers near the end of the half to insure Big Ben's lead at intermission.

Big Ben had four treys in the first half to none for Royal Guard.

"There was nothing we could do," said Royal Guard point guard Alika Smith, who is a starter for UH. "They were hitting the 3s. We weren't putting our shots in. We were missing a lot of easy shots and layups. We had them right where we wanted them in the first half but we just couldn't do it."

Hallums, who at 30 was the oldest man on his team, scored 10 points in the game, seven of them in the first half.

Big Ben came out firing in the second half and quickly asserted its elf with a 40-29 lead.

An 8-0 run by Royal Guard pulled them within three points, 40-37. But Big Ben fashioned a 12-0 spurt to take control again, 52-39. Big Ben was ahead by as many as 23 points in the second half.

Andy Gardiner and Roger Huggins, who led HPU to an NAIA national title several years ago, each scored 16 points and combined for 10 important rebounds to lead Big Ben.

Fully involved in Big Ben's pressing, trapping, full-court defense, Huggins had two steals and Gardiner had one. Gardiner also had two of Big Ben's eight treys.

Both players are now 28, and they said it's not as easy as it used to be to play fast-break basketball.

"I think it takes me a little while longer to get warmed up," said the 6-6 Gardiner. "I've got some sore spots in my body that weren't there a few years ago."

Huggins, who's 6-7, and Gardiner have played professionally for the Budweiser Premier League in England the past few years.

Gardiner helped his team, the London Towers, win the league crown as he averaged12 points and five rebounds. Huggins averaged 19 points and eight rebounds as he helped the Sheffield Sharks (located four hours north of London) to a second-place finish.

Royal Guard's Asi Tauleva, a 6-10 Brigham Young University-Hawaii player, said he was impressed with Big Ben.

"They took their time, they ran their offense, they took it to us," said Tauleva, who scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds.

Daryl Russell led Royal Guard with 14 points.

"Nobody on this team (Big Ben) averages in double figures, but we play together well as a team," said Hallums.

"We may face better individuals on the court, but there is no better team on the court than what we have here. We know it's going to take a supreme team effort to beat us - because we play defense."

Hallums said he's not finished with his medal quest. "Next I'm going for gold in the 30-and-over division."

That game will be played today.

The Top Gun Division women will play for gold tonight at 8 at the Kaimuki Recreation Center.