After suffering their first two-game losing streak of the season the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team responded in a big way on Saturday afternoon with a convincing 93-79 road victory over the Grace College Lancers.
Both teams entered the game with identical records of 13-5 overall and 3-2 in MCC play. SAU led by as many as 14 points in the first half and entered intermission with a 40-34 advantage. The Cougars would never be threatened in the final 20 minutes as they shot a blistering 75 percent (15-for-20) from the field in the closing stanza and built a 20 point cushion. For the game Spring Arbor shot a season-best 63 percent.
Junior DJ Baisden led five players in double figures as he scored a game-high 22 points. Seniors Rob Boss and Richard Blair added 12 points each as did freshman Chris Bellamy. Senior Jared List chipped in with 11 points and freshman Matt VanPelt dished out a game-high nine assists.
"We responded very well to a challenging week," commented SAU head coach Ryan Cottingham. "We obviously shot the ball exceptionally well but more importantly I was pleased with how hard we competed. Our upperclassmen must continue to pave the way... consistency will be a key down the stretch."
SAU kept it's conference title hopes alive with the victory, as they sit at 4-2 in a brutal MCC race. The Cougars sit at third in the MCC tables, just behind number two Indiana Wesleyan (4-1) and number one Bethel College (5-1).
The Cougars will be back on the road Tuesday night when they travel to Huntington, IN to play the Huntington University Foresters. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.
