SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Cornerstone University looked to come back strong after a tough 1-point overtime loss to No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan on Friday night but the host Cougars of Spring Arbor surged ahead midway through the second half and CU was unable to make a comeback as they fell 87-81 on Saturday evening. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 0-2 on the season as they will look to notch their first win when they take on No. 3 St. Francis (Ind.) next weekend in Fort Wayne.
 
Game Flow
Offense was not hard to come by in the opening twenty minutes for either team as CU shot 42% and SAU 60% as the Cougars held a slim 40-38 lead. The early going saw the Golden Eagles up by as many as six (13-7) after a pair of Sam Vander Sluis free-throws but SAU roared back to take a 30-23 lead with 6:52 on the clock. That margin was cut to two in the final seconds when Kyle Steigenga hit a deep three-pointer to make it 40-38 at the break.

CU came out a little flat to start the second and Spring Arbor held a lead until the 9:30 mark when the Golden Eagles got a jumper from Tyler Baker and a triple from Michael Bradshaw to take a 59-58 lead. That lead was short-lived however as the Cougars would go on a 12-2 run to open a 70-61 lead forcing CU into a timeout and the Golden Eagles never recovered.
 
Say What?
"It was a very disappointing weekend for our team and we have to come back strong with two more very quality opponents ahead of us. Defensively we cannot give up 90 and 87 points to teams" – Head Coach Kim Elders
 
By the Numbers
.500 – Spring Arbor shot 25-50 from the field (CU was 30/64)
29 – The Cougars made 29 foul shots compared to just eight by the Golden Eagles
35/15 – Kyle Steigenga had 35 points and 15 rebounds
12/12 – Sam Vander Sluis matches Steigenga with a double-double
21 – Michael Bradshaw posted 21 points
5/26 – CU was a dismal 5/26 from behind the arc (19.2%)
 
Up Next
Cornerstone, which last lost the first two games of their season during the 2011-12 campaign, will return to the road for a very difficult matchup at No. 3 St. Francis (Ind.) next Friday. It will be followed by a Saturday contest against No. 2 and defending national champion Union College (Ky.).
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves
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