SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -  A 16-1 run to end the opening half was more than enough to overcome an early 10-point deficit to lift the No. 2 Cornerstone Golden Eagles to a 92-73 win over No. 13 Southwestern (Kan.) in Friday's second round game. CU, which improves to 30-4 on the year, will take on a familiar foe in the national quarterfinals as they will face No. 7 Saint Francis (Ind.) at 5 p.m. EST.
 
Game Flow
It was a sluggish first 12 minutes for the Golden Eagles as they saw the MoundBuilders race out to a 29-21 lead which included their largest lead of 10 at 20-10. SC's All-American Cameron Hunt had 11 of his team's points during the early going but CU's defense started to find its way as they slowly chipped away at the lead. After Kyle Steigenga and Riley Costen both picked up two fouls, senior Michael Bradshaw scored 14 of Cornerstone's next 17 points to pull CU ahead at 38-35. The run continued to finish the half with the Golden Eagles leading 45-36 in which CU scored 16 of the final 17 points.

With a 55-47 lead with 14:01 remaining, Cornerstone scored the game's next 10 points with four each coming from Steigenga and Sam Vander Sluis to open an 18-point lead and they would eventually push it to as many as 26 after back to back layups from Sluis in route to the 19-point win.
 
Say What?
Michael Bradshaw on offensive outburst after Steigenga picked up 2nd foul - "He brought us together and said we needed to get stops but I also knew we needed some offense and once I hit one of those, things started to roll"

Kim Elders on adjustments after being down 20-10 - "They did a great job of getting in the lane and attacking our interior and Hunt is a really good player. We talked about limiting their dribble penetration and then we got some big stops that led to transition buckets"

Kim Elders on playing Saint Francis .....again - "Fifth time in the last eight tourney's we will play them and they are playing some really good basketball, especially Hinen. We havn't seen them since November and it will be another tough game like it always is with them"
 
By the Numbers
4 – CU players in double-figures led by Michael Bradshaw's 25
17/14 – Sam Vander Sluis had a double-double in points and rebounds
5 – Assists for Christian Rodriguez
.500 – CU shot 32/64 from the field including 10/21 (.476) from behind the arc
38-31 – Cornerstone out-rebounded the Moundbuilders by seven
 
Up Next
Cornerstone advances to the national quarterfinals where they will face No. 7 Saint Francis (Ind.) on Saturday at 5 p.m. EST. The winner will play in Monday's national semifinals.
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Men's Basketball on: Twitter | Facebook