FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Despite just playing eight guys and having three foul out, the Golden Eagles found a way as they pulled out a thrilling 74-73 road victory at the top seed Indiana Tech to advance to the WHAC Tournament Championship.
Tyler Baker hit two of three free throws with 12.7 seconds to go to take the lead and the Cornerstone defense stepped up to hold the Warriors and win the game. CU will travel to Madonna on Monday, March 2
nd for the WHAC Championship game as they play for their 11
th WHAC Tournament Title in program history.
What you need to know?
- As expected, the defenses were the highlight of the opening three minutes as the two teams combined for five points and Cornerstone's lone bucket came from Cory Ainsworth.
- Carter Nyp got hot from behind the arc early, hitting two threes to give CU the 8-3 edge. Nyp later hit a layup to score eight of the team's first 10 points and make it 10-3.
- Indiana Tech stormed back to go on a 10-3 run of their own and tie the game at 13 with 9:52 to play in the first half.
- Carter Nyp and Christian Rodriguez kept the Golden Eagles in the game as the two teams traded the lead back and forth as they combined for 19 of the team's first 23 points in the game.
- After an Indiana Tech timeout with 3:29 to play in the first half, the Warriors went on an 8-0 run to take their largest lead at 32-23.
- Cornerstone responded with a 7-2 run to end the half, as they trailed 34-30 at the break. Carter Nyp led the team with 16 points on 6-8 from the field and 3-3 from behind the arc.
- Indiana Tech began the second half on a 7-3 run, as Dillyn Good hit a three to increase their lead back to eight at 41-33.
- A pair of free throws and a Mitch Morken jumper got the Warriors their largest lead yet at 10 (45-35) with 16:22 to play.
- Tyler Baker started to heat up in the second half, hitting a big three and a jumper to cut the deficit to just three at 49-46.
- Cory Ainsworth cut it to one at 49-48, but Indiana Tech responded by getting the Golden Eagles in foul trouble and hitting their free throws to go back on top by seven, 55-48.
- Gabe Meriwether quickly went on a 5-0 spurt for CU to cut it back to two at 55-53 with 7:07 to play.
- Cory Ainsworth then hit a layup that tied the game at 55. This is the first time CU tied it in the second half. Cornerstone called a full timeout with 5:53 to play.
- Tyler Baker hit a huge and one bucket to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the second half at 59-57.
- With the game tied at 62, and just 3:11 to play junior point guard Christian Rodriguez fouled out of the game.
- The two teams continued to trade buckets down the stretch as Cory Ainsworth and Tyler Baker powered the Golden Eagles to some huge points. With 1:03 remaining, CU called timeout with the game tied at 70.
- Cory Ainsworth hit a layup with 40 seconds to play to give CU a 72-70 lead. Cory McKinney responded with an and one that fouled Ainsworth out of the game and gave the Warriors the lead back 73-72 with 24.8 seconds to play.
- Tyler Baker got an open three with 12.7 seconds to go and was fouled on his attempt. Baker went 2-3 at the line and gave Cornerstone the 74-73 lead.
- Cornerstone secured the win with a huge defensive stop to take down the top seed Indiana Tech 74-73 and advance to the WHAC Championship game.
By the Numbers
- CU held Indiana Tech to just 3-21 from the three-point line.
What's Next?
The Golden Eagles travel to Madonna on Monday, March 2
nd for the WHAC Championship game. The time for the game is yet to be announced.
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Jesse Campbell
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