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Cornerstone University Athletics

Cornerstone University Golden Eagles

Men's Basketball Aaron Sagraves

Slow start dooms No. 5 Men’s Hoops in 88-78 loss

Box Score

Box Score

JOLIET, Ill. – The No. 2 ranked Fighting Saints of St. Francis (Ill.) jumped out to a 17-point lead just over 10 minutes into the game and Cornerstone never recovered as they dropped their third game of the season and second to a Top-5 team 88-78. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 11-3 on the year as they will resume WHAC play on Saturday at Marygrove at 3 p.m.



Game Flow
Ben Lanning (SR/Grandville, Mich.) got the scoring started for the night with one of his four triples to put CU up 3-0 but for the next 10:59 it was all Saint Francis as they scored 29 of the next 38 points to lead 29-12. Cornerstone did put together a 7-0 late which was highlighted by five straight from Michael McLaughlin (JR/Grand Rapids, Mich.) and two from Lanning but the run was halted by the half as they trailed 45-37.

The Saints then opened the second half by scoring nine of the first 11 points to up the lead back to 15 with 16:03 to play. The lead stayed in double-figures until the Golden Eagles used a 9-0 spurt finished by four consecutive points from McLaughlin to cut the margin to eight but that would be as close as they would get with the Saints converting numerous foul shots down the stretch.

 

Say What?
"We came out slow and they hit a ton of shots. Now we get back into WHAC play where we have to play better defense." – Head Coach Kim Elders

 

By the Numbers
31 – Career high points for junior Michael McLaughlin – 12 above his previous career high
9 – Points for Kyle Steigenga (SO/Holland, Mich.) – only the second time in his career (52 games) he has failed to reach double-figures
22/10 – Double-double for Ben Lanning
51.6% - Shooting percentage for USF in the opening half – including 8/16 from 3-point range
24 – Points for reigning CCAC player of the week Ilya Ilyayev

 

Up Next
Cornerstone will return to conference play on Saturday when they take on Marygrove College in Detroit. Tip is set for 3 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center.

 

 

Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves616-334-3831 | aaron.sagraves@cornerstone.edu
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