30-4 run propels No. 16 MBB to 85-66 win at Aquinas

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cory Cox (JR/Flushing, Mich.) became the 40th player in Cornerstone men's basketball program history to go over 1,000 career points as he and the Golden Eagles used a 30-4 run to start the second half to defeat No. 17 Aquinas 85-66. The victory lifts No. 16 Cornerstone to 15-5 on the year and 10-3 in league play. CU will return to Mol Arena on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they face Lourdes University.

Game Flow
The first 4:25 of the game was all offense as CU jumped out to a slim 12-10 lead on back to back buckets from senior Ben Lanning (SR/Grandville, Mich.). Aquinas countered with a 9-0 run to grab their largest lead of the game but Travis Wells (SR/Eaton Rapids, Mich.)' strong shooting touch kept CU close as they trailed 38-34 at the break.

After a Cory Cox three opened the second half, Aquinas came right back to up the lead back to three at 40-37 but over the next 6:02 of play, the Golden Eagles scored 25 unanswered points and upped that run to 30-4 on a Sam Vander Sluis (FR/Holland, Mich.) bucket with 11:37 to play to lead 64-42. During the run, Cory Cox hit a triple from the top of the key to push the junior over 1,000 career points. Also during the run, CU got 3-point baskets on four consecutive possessions including two from junior Joey Blauwkamp (JR/Grandville, Mich.).

The largest lead of the game was 24 for Cornerstone after a Dilon Aten (FR/Dorr, Mich.) three which forced AQ to use their third timeout of the half.

Say What?
"It was great to start hitting some shots. We got the open looks in the first half but the shots didn't go in. The second half we buckled down on defense and executed on offense." Head coach Kim Elders

By the Numbers
40 – Cory Cox is the 40th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points and third this season
21 – Team high points for Travis Wells despite only playing 20 minutes due to foul trouble
8/13 – 3-Point FG's for the Golden Eagles in the second half
23 – Bench points for CU to go along with 16 rebounds, five assists and four blocks (all from Vander Sluis)
.285 – CU limited the Saints to just 8/28 from the field in the second half while out-rebounding them 21-10

Up Next
Cornerstone will be back to Mol Arena for their next four games starting Saturday when they host Lourdes University at 3 p.m. It will be the first ever Purple Game for CU Basketball as proceeds will be donated to Van Andel Institute.

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