The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team just seems to have the University of St. Francis' number. The NAIA #23 ranked SAU Cougars travelled to Fort Wayne Tuesday night to face off with #6 ranked USF and came away with a gutty 70-68 victory; their sixth consecutive over the host USF Cougars. The win completes a second consecutive regular season sweep by Spring Arbor in the series. USF has not notched a win over SAU in men's basketball since December 1st, 2007.
Spring Arbor opened up a comfortable eleven point lead by the twelve minute mark of the first half behind the hot shooting of junior guard DJ Baisden. Baisden, who finished the night with a game high 22 points and a team high five assists, had a stellar first period, scoring fourteen points and handing out four helpers.
The two teams battled back and forth for the remaining part of the first half. Up five points with possession of the ball, Spring Arbor's Chris Bellamy was unable to convert on his attempted floater with around ten seconds left in the period. USF was quick to pounce on the ball and rush to the other end of the court where they made SAU pay for the mistake with a three point play the old fashioned way after a Jared List foul. After holding a comfortable lead for most of the half, the visiting Cougars went into the intermission up just one bucket at 36-34.
Both teams battled fiercely in the second stanza as SAU built a seven point lead after a Baisden drive with eleven minutes left, but USF refused to go away and clawed back into the game with a mini run of their own, even briefly snatching the lead (60-59) with five and a half minutes remaining.
SAU rebounded quickly and built the bulge back up to five points (60-55) about a minute later when senior Richard Blair connected on a three point bomb off a Matt VanPelt assist.
The teams traded baskets until the final minute of play when a pair of free throws by USF trimmed the SAU lead to just two points with fourteen seconds remaining. Baisden was immediately fouled on the SAU inbounds play and connected on just one of his two free throws, setting up a dramatic finish.
In a controversial call, senior Aaron list was whistled for an intentional foul with four seconds left in the game over twenty three feet from the basket, giving USF a pair of free throws and the ball. Down three points (70-67), USF only connected on one of the two ensuing free throws and were unable to get a clean look at the basket on the inbounds attempt, allowing SAU to escape with a 70-68 decision.
The Cougars shot a respectable 48% (24-50) for the game while their trademark defense kept the hosts to a chilly 38% (25-65). Baisden led four Cougars who scored in double digits in the contest. Junior Willie Pickvet continues to shine as he added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Blair and fellow senior Rob Boss added 12 points each. Boss also snagged eight rebounds, seven of which came in the first half of play.
"This was a very good road win," commented SAU head coach Ryan Cottingham. "It keeps us in the mix. We need to continue to focus on getting better and take things one day at a time, there is a lot of basketball yet to be played this season."
The Cougars forged a three team log jam at the #2 spot in the MCC tables with the victory. SAU (18-6, 7-3) is tied in second with USF (19-5, 7-3) and Bethel College (19-4, 7-3). All three schools are chasing Indiana Wesleyan (19-4, 8-2) who sits alone atop the MCC standings.
Spring Arbor will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Upland, Indiana to take on the Taylor University Trojans. SAU won the first meeting between the teams 67-60 on December 5th, 2009.
