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64
Aquinas (Mich.) AQ 0-1
69
Winner Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 1-0
Aquinas (Mich.) AQ
0-1
64
Final
69
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Aquinas (Mich.) AQ 35 29 64
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 34 35 69
79
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 1-1
84
Winner Cornerstone (Mich.) CU 1-1
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
1-1
79
Final
84
Cornerstone (Mich.) CU
1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 36 36 7 79
Cornerstone (Mich.) CU 34 38 12 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball opens campaign at CL/WHAC Challenge

MARION, Ind. – The No. 1 ranked Spring Arbor University men's basketball team opened the 2019-20 season over the weekend at the Crossroads League/WHAC Challenge, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University.

Spring Arbor picked up a victory on opening night Friday, defeating Aquinas College 69-64, but fell to No. 12 ranked Cornerstone University 84-79 in overtime on Saturday.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORES: No. 1 Spring Arbor 69, Aquinas 64

No. 1 Spring Arbor 79, No. 12 Cornerstone 84

LOCATION: Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, Ind.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 1-1, Aquinas 0-1, Cornerstone 1-1

 
 

VS. AQUINAS

  • Spring Arbor led by as many as 10 in the first half, but Aquinas slowly chipped away at the deficit, and would ultimately take a one point lead into halftime, 35-34.
  • The Cougars opened the second half on a 9-0 run fueled by five points from Luke Barber and four from Brandon Durnell. SAU would never trail after that.
  • Aquinas kept it close. The Saints trailed by just one with 2:24 to go, but a bucket from Durnell stretched the lead back to three. One minute, Payton DeWildt knocked down a dagger three to help clinch the win.
  • Durnell finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting while also grabbing seven rebounds.
  • Three other Cougars scored in double figures. Paul Marandet had 14 points to go along with five assists and two blocks while DeWildt and Jeff Beckman chipped in 10 points apiece. DeWildt added seven boards and five assists.
  • Spring Arbor shot 53 percent (26-for-49) from the field and held Aquinas to 36 percent (25-for-69). The Saints had a 38-31 advantage in rebounds.

 
 

VS. CORNERSTONE

  • Saturday was a showdown between two top-15 ranked teams that featured 12 ties and 12 lead changes, and neither side ever led by more than eight points.
  • Spring Arbor trailed by four, 68-64, with 2:19 remaining, but an old-fashioned three-point play by DeWildt got the Cougars within one.
  • Cornerstone was still clinging to a one point lead in the final minute of play when Barber buried a clutch three-pointer to put SAU on top, 72-70, with only 12 seconds left on the clock. However, the Golden Eagles answered with a bucket before the buzzer to force overtime.
  • Trailing by three in the final seconds, Spring Arbor put the ball in Barber's hands again, but his three-point attempt came up empty and Cornerstone would sink a pair of free throws at the other end to put the game away.
  • Durnell posted a game-high 29 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Barber had 18 points while hitting five triples. Beckman was one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards. Marandet finished with 11 points and six assists.
  • Spring Arbor shot 44 percent (27-for-61) but could not slow down Cornerstone, who shot 51 percent (32-for-63).

 
 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor visits Rochester University (2-0) on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

The Cougars will then host Concordia University (1-0) in its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. where SAU will honor the 2019 national champs with the championship banner unveiling.

 
 

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