GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cornerstone will return to action after 13 days off with a pair of non-conference games in Miami Gardens, Florida before New Years. CU will play at St. Thomas on Friday at 7 p.m. and then follow that with a game at Florida Memorial on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games will have live video/audio/stats available at cugoldeneagles.com.
Opponent: St. Thomas
Date: Friday, December 28
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. (Fernandez Family Center)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats
Opponent: Florida Memorial
Date: Saturday, December 29, 2018
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. (Multi-Purpose Arena)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats
Scouting St. Thomas
The Bobcats finished the 2017-1 season with a 23-8 record and an NAIA DII National Tournament opening round loss to finish the year ranked eighth in the country. To begin 2018-19 St. Thomas was ranked 25th, but they have struggled to begin the year posting a 5-7 overall record with their most recent loss coming at home to no. 13 Indiana Tech. STU lost all four of its leading scorers from last season to graduation with all four of those players averaging double-figures on the year. This season the Bobcats have two players averaging double figures in junior Justin Brown (16.9 PPG) and junior Aaron Dutcher (12.3 PPG). As a team, Saint Thomas ranks 14th in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game averaging 13.3 and 23rd in steals per game with 8.3.
Scouting Florida Memorial
The Lions have posted a 3-12 record to begin 2018-19, competing in The Sun Conference in NAIA DII. Florida Memorial has struggled to find a starting lineup to stick with, as nine different players have seen at least one start in their first 15 games. FMU is coached by Ansar Al-Ameen. Al-Ameen has had experience all over the country including time as an assistant with Fresno State University as well as being a trainer for some off the top professional basketball players in the world including: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Shawn Marion.
Last Time Out
The Golden Eagles have had 13 days off for Christmas break, but their last time out they ended the 2018 conference slate with a 71-54 road victory at Northwestern Ohio.
Riley Costen led the team with 16 points, while
Sam Vander Sluis pulled down his second 23 rebound game of the season while also leading the team with five assists.
Rebounding Record
Senior
Sam Vander Sluis currently sits at 1,231 career rebounds to put him tied with Jim Eppink for the most in school history. Vander Sluis needs just one more rebound to etch his name in Golden Eagle history as the leader in career rebounds. Sam also just needs 23 more points for 1,500 in his career as the center has averaged 18.4 PPG and 15.4 RPG this season.
National Statistics
Cornerstone continues to rank best in the nation in total blocks with 84. CU averages 5.3 blocks per game to rank second in the NAIA. The Golden Eagles also rank in the top five in rebounding with 685 total rebounds this season.
Men's Basketball Contact:
Jesse Campbell
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