Another stellar defensive effort carried the Spring Arbor University Cougars past the Goshen College Maple Leafs Tuesday night by the score of 60-57 in a key Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) match-up.

Spring Arbor held the Maple Leafs to a chilly 32% shooting from the field including 23% in the first half.

The game was close throughout as the lead changed hands several times with neither team able to pull away.

Senior Mike Folkert (right)(Hudson, MI) made his only three point attempt of the night late in the game and followed that up with a driving lay-up to give Spring Arbor a 58-55 lead with just 1:02 to play. After Goshen converted on their next possession Folkert came up with a huge offensive rebound and the Maple Leafs were forced to foul senior Micah Lancaster (Belmont, MI) with just 12 seconds remaining. Facing a one and the bonus situation Lancaster calmly sank both free throws and then senior DaJuan Jefferson (Jackson, MI) came up with a steal in the closing seconds to seal the victory.

Lancaster led SAU with 15 points (all in the second half) while Folkert and Jefferson recorded 11 and 10 points respectively.

The win propels SAU into a tie for 3rd in the league with the University of St. Francis, who will be the Cougars opponent on Saturday afternoon in Ft. Wayne, IN.

SAU is 15-9 overall and 6-4 in MCC play.

"We've had great back to back games on the defensive end," commented SAU head coach Ryan Cottingham. "I think the guys are starting to realize that if we defend at a high level we'll always be in the game. Hinkle and Edmonds gave us great energy again off the bench."