SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A slow start was reversed with a huge finish to the first half as the No. 12 Cornerstone Men's Basketball team posted a 69-63 win over No. 23 Friends (Kan.) on Thursday in the opening round of the NAIA DII National Tournament. The win, which lifts the Golden Eagles to 26-8 overall, sends CU into Friday's second round where they will face either College of Idaho or Vorhees (S.C.)
What you need to know?
- Friends scored five of the first six points of the game
- CU took their first lead at 6-5 with 13:15 to play in the opening half
- The lead continued to grow for Cornerstone and after a Tyler Baker triple, led by 15 which would be the lead at the half (39-24)
- After a Sam Vander Sluis 3-point play to open the second half, the margin was its largest at 18
- CU led comfortably for the first 15 minutes of the second half
- Friends cut the margin to just six after their second banked three-pointer with just over two minutes to play
- CU had 11 turnovers in the second half which helped Friends get back in the game
Let's Get Social
Say What?
"We relaxed and they kept playing which allowed them to get back in the game We need to be better with the ball and not turn it over so much. Our defense executed the game plan really well " – Head coach Kim Elders
By the Numbers
27 – Sam Vander Sluis set a new school record as well as a new NAIA DII National Tourney record with 27 rebounds
20/27/5/4 - Sluis finished with 20 points, 27 rebounds, five assists and four blocks
15/5 – Tyler Baker had 15 points to go along with five rebounds
11 – Christian Rodriguez finished with 11 points (made a pair of triples)
9/6/2 – Gabe Meriwether had a solid around game in points, rebounds and assists
.250 – CU made just five of their 20 3-point attempts
17 – CU held Friends' leading scorer (Murdock) 11 points below his season average
What's Next?
No. 12 Cornerstone advances to Friday's round of 16 where they will meet the winner of College of Idaho and Vorhees (S.C.) at 5 p.m. EST.
