PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half and by nine at the break, the No. 12 Golden Eagles responded with a big second half to win 78-69 over Trinity Christian in the opener of the Troll Classic. Cornerstone outscored the Trolls 50-32 in the second half and shot 54.3% from the field in the period to earn the comeback victory. CU is now 3-2 on the year as they close out the Troll Classic back in Palos Heights tomorrow at 5 p.m. vs. Saint Xavier. 
 

What you need to know? 

• In the first six minutes of play, Cornerstone got off to a good defensive holding the Trolls to just five points while scoring 12 behind back-to-back buckets from Christian Rodriguez. 
• TCC responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 12 with 11:49 remaining in the first half. 
• Trinity Christian later went on a 14-2 run to take a game high 10-point lead at 26-16. 
• Kyle Hayes scored two huge buckets to help power CU back on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just two points. 
• Trinity Christian increased the lead back to nine at the half, 37-28. 
• Cornerstone came out of the half on a rampage, going on a 12-0 run behind three balls from Tyler Baker and Christian Rodriguez to regain the lead at 40-37. 
• The two teams would the trade buckets as the score was tied 50-50 with 12:09 to play. 
• Cornerstone broke the tie with a 9-1 run that was concluded on a huge tip in from Kyle Hayes to make it 60-51. 
• Trinity Christian cut it back to just four, but CU refused to give up the lead this time as free throw shooting was crucial down the stretch with Tyler Baker and Christian Rodriguez each hitting their shots at the line.
• Cornerstone held on to win 78-69 and improve to 3-2 on the year. 

 
Let's Get Social

 

Great Comeback win for the Cornerstone Golden Eagles!! Cornerstone-78 Trinity Christian-69 End of game
Good games by @Assist_K1ng (18 pts 3 stls), @CarterNyp15 (17 pts 7 rebs), and @khayes_12 (18 pts 8 rebs)

— Cornerstone Basketball (@CornerstoneMBB) November 9, 2019

By the Numbers 

• Kyle Hayes was tied for the team lead in points with 18 (9-12 FG) and had a team high eight rebounds in the win. 
• Christian Rodriguez (18), Carter Nyp (17), and Tyler Baker (12) all also had double-figures in the win. 
• Cornerstone dominated the rebounding margin 56-30 over the Trolls. 
• The Golden Eagles tied a season low with just nine assists in the game. 

 
What's Next? 
Cornerstone will conclude the Troll Classic against Saint Xavier tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST back in Palos Heights on the campus of Trinity Christian.  
 
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Men's Basketball on: Twitter | Facebook