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86
Indiana Wesleyan INWU 11-3, 3-2 CL
96
Winner Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 12-2, 4-1 CL
Indiana Wesleyan INWU
11-3, 3-2 CL
86
Final
96
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
12-2, 4-1 CL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Indiana Wesleyan INWU 45 41 86
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 49 47 96

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

No. 23 Men's Basketball topples No. 1 IWU for second straight Top 5 win

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team sent shockwaves throughout the Crossroads League and across the country with a 96-86 victory over No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday at the McDonald Athletic Center.

The win was the second straight for the No. 23 ranked Cougars over a top-5 ranked opponent following the program's 89-86 overtime win against No. 5 Marian University on Tuesday night.

Spring Arbor, which improved to 12-2 overall and 4-1 in the league, now sits atop the Crossroads League in sole possession of first place in the standings.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: No. 23 Spring Arbor 96, No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan 86

LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 12-2 (4-1 CL), Indiana Wesleyan 11-3 (3-2 CL)

 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Spring Arbor was red-hot from the field to start the contest, making its first four shots, including three three-pointers, to race out to an 11-4 lead.
  • The Cougars unleashed a barrage of three-pointers in the first half, sinking its first eight attempts from long range, and would finish the stanza going 9-for-12 from behind the arc. Senior Luke Barber buried five treys over the first 20 minutes to help lift SAU to a 49-45 advantage at the break.
  • The top-ranked Wildcats refused to go away, however, and would open the second half on an 8-2 run to grab their first lead of the afternoon, 53-51, at the 16:17 mark.
  • After the two teams exchanged the lead a few times, a quick scoring spurt put SAU in front for good. A layup from Daniel Cluster ignited the rally, then, following a big block on the defensive end by Jeff Beckman, Paul Marandet drained a three to put the Cougars back in the driver's seat.
  • Indiana Wesleyan would make one last push, closing the gap to five, 79-74, with 5:11 remaining, but great free throw shooting and a dagger three from Brandon Durnell would help clinch the win.

 
 

FOR THE COUGARS

  • Barber dropped a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including five three's. Marandet added 20 points and dished out six assists.
  • Three other Cougars scored in double figures. Durnell had 11 points while Payton DeWildt and Nick Welch chipped in 10 apiece.
  • Spring Arbor shot 51 percent (30-for-59) on the afternoon, including going 11-for-19 from three-point range. The Cougars also went 27-for-30 from the free throw line.
  • SAU out-rebounded the Wildcats 35-27.
  • The Cougars got 33 points off the bench compared to IWU's 16.

 
 

FOR THE WILDCATS

  • Four Indiana Wesleyan players reached double figures, led by Joel Okafor's 21 points. Reigning Crossroads League Player of the Year Kyle Mangas finished with 19 and Evan Maxwell and Seth Maxwell had 13 apiece.
  • The Wildcats connected on an even 50 percent (31-for-62) of their field goal attempts.

 
 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor will play its next three games on the road, beginning with a trip to Kalamazoo College (2-7) on Saturday, Dec. 15 starting at 5 p.m.

 
 

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