ADRIAN, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team closed out its non-conference slate on Monday, bouncing back from Saturday's setback against the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 71-62 victory over Siena Heights University.
VS. MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
FINAL SCORE: No. 15 Spring Arbor 74, No. 21 Michigan-Dearborn 81
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 9-5, Michigan-Dearborn 12-4
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In a matchup between two Top 25 ranked teams, No. 15 Spring Arbor led No. 21 Michigan-Dearborn for nearly the entire game.
- With 3:11 remaining in the contest, Michigan-Dearborn took its first lead since scoring the game's first bucket.
- Spring Arbor trailed by four, 74-70, with 36 seconds left on the clock, but a basket from Paul Marandet got SAU within two. However, Dearborn was able to hold on going 7-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch.
- Marandet scored 28 points and dished out eight assists. Luke Barber finished with 15 points and knocked down four 3-pointers while Jeff Beckman posted 10 points and seven rebounds.
- Michigan-Dearborn was led by 32 points and 10 rebounds from Jason Gigliotti. Cody Kegley added 14 points.
VS. SIENA HEIGHTS
FINAL SCORE: No. 15 Spring Arbor 71, Siena Heights 62
LOCATION: Siena Heights University | Adrian, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 10-5, Siena Heights 6-9
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a back-and-forth first 15 minutes, Spring Arbor took control of the game in the final five minutes of the first half. The Cougars closed the opening stanza with 12 unanswered points with Brandon Durnell and Marandet combining for all 12 points.
- Spring Arbor led by as much as 16 in the second half, but Siena Heights would make a push late. The Saints battled their way back to close the gap to four, 58-54, with 3:30 left to play. The Cougars put a stop to the run with back-to-back buckets from Marandet and Barber.
- Marandet had 17 points, four assists and three steals. Barber finished with 12 points and Beckman chipped in 10. Daniel Cluster added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor resumes Crossroads League play against Taylor University (8-7, 0-3 CL) on Saturday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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