Desperation three sends No. 9 Men's Hoops to 79-78 loss

Box Score

LIVONIA, Mich. – For the second time this season, a last second desperation three-pointer has sent the Cornerstone men's basketball to defeat. This time it came at Madonna as the Crusaders posted the 79-78 upset inside the Activities Center. The loss drops Cornerstone to 14-5 on the year and 9-3 in league action as they will look to rebound on the road Wednesday at No. 22 Aquinas.

Game Flow
The offense for the host Crusaders was the story early as sophomore Chris Dierker scored 12 of the team's first 14 points as they jumped out to a 14-6 lead just over five minutes into the contest. Cornerstone, which made just three of its first 14 shots, then caught fire behind the hot hand of Cory Cox (JR/Flushing, Mich.) who connected on three triples in a 1:36 span to tie the game at 29-29. Madonna got a little spurt at the end of the half but a late 3-pointer from Travis Wells (SR/Eaton Rapids, Mich.) cut the MU lead to 40-37 after 20 minutes.

The second half opened with a big dunk from Ben Lanning (SR/Grandville, Mich.) but every time CU would make a push to take the lead, the Crusaders had an answer especially from behind the arc. Trailing 67-62 with 7:14 to play, the Golden Eagles used a 6-0 run (all from Travis Wells) to take their first lead of the game at 68-67. The senior then scored seven more in a row for CU as they held a 75-74 lead with 43 seconds to play. After an MU timeout, the Wells run continued as he connected a jumper to put the Golden Eagles up three.

After CU fouled and Madonna hit a pair of free-throws with under 10 seconds to play, the Golden Eagles were fouled and hit one of two from the line setting up the final play in which MU hit a desperation three to defeat CU 79-78.

By the Numbers
22 – Travis Wells scored a team high 22 points for the Golden Eagles
21 – Points for Kyle Steigenga (SO/Holland, Mich.) – matching his average on the season
28 – Points for Madonna's Chris Dierker – 20 of which came in the first half
38-27 – Cornerstone out-rebounded Madonna by 11
19 – Turnovers for the Golden Eagles

Up Next
Cornerstone will travel down the East Betline to rival Aquinas on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. tip against the No. 22 ranked Saints.

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