SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a 94-57 victory over East-West University on Tuesday night inside the McDonald Athletic Center.
The Cougars put five players in double figures, including a team-high 17 points from senior Tom Hamilton, on their way to the win. Sophomore transfer Nick Welch also made an immediate impact in his debut posting a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 94, East-West 57
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 1-0, East-West 0-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spring Arbor never trailed in the game after opening the night on a 13-3 run.
- East-West kept the score close throughout much of the first half, and trimmed the deficit to five, 22-17, with a 6-0 run with 5:18 to play in the period. Paul Marandet halted the Phantoms' momentum with four straight points. The Cougars would take a 35-23 lead into halftime.
- SAU broke the game wide open in the second stanza, outscoring East-West 59-34 over the final 20 minutes. The Cougars shot 51 percent (18-for-35) from the field and went 18-for-21 from the free throw line in the second period.
FOR THE COUGARS
- Hamilton finished going 7-for-12 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, on his way to a team-best 17 points. Marandet followed with 16 points and eight assists while Brandon Durnell matched his career-high with 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Payton DeWildt chipped in with 13 points and Jeff Beckman hauled in 12 boards.
- Spring Arbor shot 48 percent (28-for-58) on the night and went 7-for-17 from behind the arc. The Cougars also went 31-for-40 from the charity stripe.
FOR THE PHANTOMS
- Sherman Carter paced East-West with 23 points while Allen Morris finished with 13.
- The Phantoms were limited to 28 percent (22-for-78) shooting, including going 8-for-35 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor travels to Grand Rapids for the annual Crossroads League/WHAC Challenge this weekend. The Cougars will face No. 7 Cornerstone University on Friday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. before taking on Aquinas College on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
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