GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Men's Basketball opened play inside the Mol Arena with a tough matchup against #8 Grace and came away with a big team win 87-78. Luke Rowlinson led the way with a team high 23 points, but Jack Joldersma, Blake Stewart, and Connor Dykema all stepped up when needed to propel Cornerstone to the upset victory. Cornerstone wins their first home game of the year as they now hit the road to take on Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, November 9 for a matchup starting at 4 p.m. EST.
 
Game Recap - #RV Cornerstone – 87 #8 Grace - 78
 
First Half: Cornerstone – 42 Grace – 36

• Jack Joldersma scored the first points of the game for the Golden Eagles with a layup to get the offense started.
• The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead through the first three minutes thanks to four points from Jack Joldersma and Luke Rowlinson.
• Grace responded with their own 8-2 run to take a 10-8 lead over the Golden Eagles thanks to easy fastbreak layups.
• A Kayden Bird three and a Blake Stewart layup forced Grace into a timeout as five quick Golden Eagle points gave them a 17-14 advantage with 11:29 to go in the half.
• Blake Stewart continued to crash the boards and grab offensive rebounds and was later rewarded with easy layups to give Cornerstone a 26-20 advantage.
• A quick 10-0 run highlighted by threes from Mason Brooks and Luke Rowlinson gave the Golden Eagles their largest lead 36-23 with 4:40 to go in the first half.
• Connor Dykema continued to be aggressive and scored another basket around the rim to make it 40-29.
• Grace outscored the Golden Eagles 7-2 in the final two-minutes but Cornerstone heads into halftime with a 42-36 lead. Cornerstone shot 47.5% from the field compared to Grace's 38.9%

 
Second Half: Cornerstone – 87 Grace - 78

• The Golden Eagles opened the second half on a two-minute 9-0 run that was highlighted by four different Cornerstone scorers to make it 51-36.
• Six-straight Gage Sefton points around the basket sees Grace chip away at the Golden Eagle lead 53-44.
• Blake Stewart continued to provide a spark off the bench as he has scored four-straight points to make it a 60-50 game with 11:52 to go.
• Back-to-back and one baskets from the Lancers sees them go on quick 7-0 run to make it 60-57.
• The Golden Eagles continued to hold onto the lead as free throws from Toby Woolcock and Tanner Wiegerink makes it 71-64 with six-minutes left.
• Another Lancer 7-0 run makes it a one-point game as the Golden Eagles cling to a 74-73 lead with 3:28 to go.
• Tanner Wiegerink ends the drought for the Golden Eagles with back-to-back layups to make it 78-74.
• After battles in the point for rebounds and loose balls, the Lancers tie the game at 78 thanks to their extra effort plays as 1:34 remains.
• Blake Stewart drives and shoots a layup, the ball spins around the rim and slowly trickles into the basket as he was fouled on the play. Stewart completed the free throw to make it an 81-78 game with one-minute to go.
• The Golden Eagles continued to get it done on the defensive end as Luke Rowlinson makes a layup and Blake Stewart knocks down key free throws to make 85-78.
• Toby Woolcock gets the final block of the game as the Golden Eagles complete the upset of #8 Grace 87-78.

 
By the Numbers
23 – Luke Rowlinson led the way with a team high 23 points
15/10 – Blake Stewart and Connor Dykema were huge off the bench with 15 and 10 points
48.6 – The Golden Eagles found some offensive rhythm as they shot 48.6% from the field
 
What's Next?
Men's Basketball hits the road to take on Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, November 9 starting at 4 p.m. EST.
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jonny Strube
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