SPRING ARBOR, MI – It was a disappointing night for the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team on Thursday night as Mount Vernon Nazarene got the better end of a 55-47 decision in a Crossroads League contest.

The Cougars of Spring Arbor had high hopes coming into the game tonight fresh from their impressive performance just two days ago against a solid Huntington basketball team when Spring Arbor shot over 54% from the field and 50% from 3-point range.

Tonight was another story and a reversal of fortune as Spring Arbor put up dismal numbers from the field hitting only 25% from the field (14-55) and only 2 of 18 (11%) shots from outside the arc.

Spring Arbor just couldn't ever get a rhythm going and seemed to not be hitting on all cylinders for much of the night.  One of those missing 'cylinders' was Rob Hogans, who was out of the game with a sprained ankle.

The home Cougars last lead of the game came at 3:41 left in the first half of play when Matt Howe made a layup to put Spring Arbor on top 17-16.  The visiting Cougars hit a 3-pointer less than a minute later and would never relinquish the lead for the rest of the game. MVNU enjoyed a four point lead, 23-19, at the intermission.

Starting the second half, Mount Vernon scored twice to open up an eight point margin on Spring Arbor, and would manage to build a 10 point lead a couple of times on Spring Arbor.  Spring Arbor battled hard to regain any momentum and would twice cut the lead to four points, but both times MVNU would turn back Spring Arbor and would go on to win the game 55-47.

Howe led Spring Arbor with 15 points, three rebounds, and a block and Chris Bellamy added 14 points and hauled in 11 rebounds for the double-double.  Matt Van Pelt chipped in with seven points and freshman Jiles Neely had five points.

Spring Arbor falls to 12-7 an 2-5 for the year while Mount Vernon Nazarene improved to 9-10, and 1-6 picking up their first League victory.  Spring Arbor will travel to Goshen College in Goshen, IN on Saturday for a 3:00 game.