Defense falters in 90-84 loss to No. 5 Davenport

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In two of Cornerstone's three losses entering the NAIA National Game of the Week, they have given up 88 and 95 points to the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams. Today, CU gave up 90 to No. 5 Davenport in a 90-84 loss inside Mol Arena. The setback drops No. 7 Cornerstone to 13-4 on the season and 8-2 in the WHAC as they will return to action on Wednesday at home against Concordia.

Game Flow
In a matchup of the top scoring offense in the league (Cornerstone – 82.4) and top defensive team (Davenport – 63.4), it was all offense on Saturday afternoon as the Golden Eagles held a 36-34 edge at halftime. That lead changed seven times in the opening twenty minutes and had nine moments where it was tied. Tied 33-33 with just over two minutes in the opening half, CU got six straight from Kyle Steigenga (SO/Holland, Mich.), Michael McLaughlin (JR/Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Cory Cox (JR/Flushing, Mich.) but DU rallied to score the final four of the half for the two-point margin.

CU held on to the lead for the first 5:38 of the second half but a 5-0 DU run gave them a 51-50 edge and over the next eight minutes, neither team led by more than three. Trailing 62-63, Cornerstone saw Davenport run off seven straight points to take a 70-62 lead but the Golden Eagles continued to fight back and had the margin down to just one (83-82) on a 4-point play from Cox. After a 3-point play on the other end for DU, the Golden Eagles were forced to foul and the Panthers connected down the stretch to ice the win.

Say What?
"It was another classic game between two top-10 programs. We needed stops down the stretch and did not get them…they got them when they needed to." – Head Coach Kim Elders

By the Numbers
26 – Team high points for Michael McLaughlin
54.5 and 50.0 – Both teams shot over 50% in the game (DU - .545 and CU .500)
12-14 – Ben Lanning (SR/Grandville, Mich.) posted his fourth straight double-double
5 – CU had just five points off the bench of their 84
7 – Assists for Michael McLaughlin to go along with four steals

Up Next
Cornerstone will stay at home for their next game as they will host Concordia on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

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