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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Making their fifth appearance of the season at the home gym of Aquinas College did not start well for the No. 7 ranked men's basketball team on Wednesday night. Instead the team dug themselves a 7-point halftime deficit only to claw their way back and claim a 67-62 win over the host Saints. The victory improves CU to 15-4 on the year and 9-2 in league play as they will host Concordia on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Game Flow
Aquinas jumped out a big lead early on as they score the game's first eight points and eventually led by as many as nine in the opening half. The opening twenty minutes was dominated by the slow pace because of foul trouble for CU as three starters finished the half with three whistles against them and AQ senior Anthony Williams made them pay as he knocked down all 14 of his foul shots to give AQ a 40-33 lead at the break.
CU, which had already played four games (WHAC/CL Challenge and Hall of Fame Classic) at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center, came out with a charge in the second half and quickly erased the halftime deficit by using an 11-4 run to tie the game at 44-44. The Golden Eagles then took their first lead of the game at the 13:21 mark on a layup from Kyle Steigenga (FR/Holland, Mich.) and they would never relinquish the lead, going up by as many as nine (59-50). Aquinas did make one last push but clutch free-throws from Joey Blauwkamp (SO/Grandville, Mich.) sealed the win for CU.
Say What?
"I was very proud of the way the guys handled so much different adversity tonight. We held a very good team to just 27% shooting and showed we can come back after not playing very well in the first half." Head coach Kim Elders
By the Numbers
22 – Aquinas senior Anthony Williams made all 22 of his foul shots
32 – Total free-throws made by the home team – The Saints only had 30 other points in the game
27% - CU limited the Saints to just 14-52 from the field including 3-17 for Williams who ended up with 30 (22 from FT line)
39-29 – Edge on the glass for Cornerstone, as they were led by Kyle Steigenga (9) and Michael McLaughlin (SO/Grand Rapids, Mich.) (6)
1 – Only one player for CU finished in double-figures (Kyle Steigenga with 21) – AQ had only one as well
Up Next
Cornerstone will look to continue its six-game winning streak when they host Concordia on Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Mol Arena. The Cardinals handed CU its last loss back on December 13 78-69 in Ann Arbor.
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-334-3831 | aaron.sagraves@cornerstone.edu
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