WYOMING, Mich. – Junior Greg Hamilton scored a career-high 26 points at Grace Bible College on Tuesday night, but it was not enough as the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team closed its non-conference slate with a 71-66 setback to the Tigers.
The loss not only dropped the Cougars to 10-5 on the season, but ended a streak of eight straight victories over Grace Bible, who improved to 9-8 overall.
With the score tied 10-10 early in the first half, Spring Arbor used a 10-0 run to grab what would be the largest lead of the game. The Tigers slowly chipped away at the deficit and managed to jump in front 27-24 with 2:20 remaining in the period.
Senior Collin Hewitt answered, though, with back-to-back three-pointers before sophomore Caleb Hogans knocked down a jumper to put the Cougars on top 32-27 in the closing seconds. However, GBC's Jared Bradford would hit a triple just before the buzzer to get the home team within two, 32-30, at the break.
The two teams went back and forth through much of the second half until freshman Drew Zuidema and Hamilton knocked down consecutive three-pointers to give SAU a 57-50 advantage at the 6:35 mark.
However, the Cougars would struggle to score over the next 5:36, going 1-for-6 from the field and allowing the Tigers to re-take the lead, 64-61. With less than a minute left to play, Hamilton ended the dry spell with a huge three to level the score, but Bradford answered immediately with another triple on the other end to put Grace Bible on top for good. Hamilton hit a layup to get within one, but GBC would capitalize on its opportunities at the free throw line to close out the game.
Spring Arbor shot 45 percent (23-for-51) on the night, including 39 percent (9-for-23) from behind the arc, but Grace Bible connected on 49 percent (25-for-51) of its shots while hitting 11 three-pointers. The Cougars were also out-rebounded 35-22, allowing the Tigers to score 14 second chance points.
Hamilton recorded a career-best four triples while stuffing the stat sheet with six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal. Senior Tyler Hughes and Hewitt followed with 10 and eight points, respectively while Hogans finished with seven points, four assists and four steals.
Spring Arbor will open the New Year at conference foe Mount Vernon Nazarene University (11-3, 2-1 Crossroads League) on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 3 p.m.
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