SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Brandon Durnell scored a game-high 28 points, but it was his last two that will be remembered, hitting a turnaround jumper in the paint at the buzzer to lift the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team to a thrilling 82-81 victory over No. 23 Grace College on Tuesday night.
Durnell set the stage for his heroics on the defensive end just prior to his game-winning shot. With Grace's Charlie Warner driving to the bucket and looking to put the Lancers up by three, Durnell absorbed a blow in the post and was rewarded with a charge call, negating the basket and giving possession back to SAU.
It was the fourth win in five games for the Cougars, who are now tied for fourth place in the Crossroads League standings. It was also the third victory over a nationally ranked team in the last four games.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 82, No. 23 Grace 81
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 17-10 (8-7 CL), Grace 17-10 (9-6 CL)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spring Arbor raced out to a double-digit lead early, opening up a 20-8 advantage less than seven minutes into the game. However, Grace used the 3-ball to fight its way back into the game, going 7-for-14 from long range in the first half.
- The Lancers led by five in the closing seconds of the opening stanza, but Payton DeWildt banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer to close the gap to two, 46-44, heading into the intermission.
- The second half was back-and-forth the entire way with no team ever leading by more than six.
- Trailing by three with under a minute to play, Jeff Beckman knocked down a jumper from the elbow to get SAU within one, 81-80. On the Lancers' next possession, Durnell would draw the charge on GC's Charlie Warner, setting the stage for his game-winning shot on the other end of the floor as time expired.
FOR THE COUGARS
- Durnell was 11-for-15 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line on his way to 28 points – just one off of his season-high.
- DeWildt matched his season-high with 20 points while Beckman finished with 15 and eight rebounds. Paul Marandet added eight points and dished out seven assists.
- Spring Arbor, one of the top shooting teams in the country, shot 54 percent (30-for-56) on the night.
FOR THE LANCERS
- Jaret Sons was the leading scorer for Grace with 21 points while also hauling in 12 rebounds. Haden Deaton finished with 17 points and Matt Jennings scored 16 off the bench.
- The Lancers made 51 percent (29-for-57) of their shots, including going 12-for-25 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor visits Crossroads League leader, and No. 3 ranked, Indiana Wesleyan University (23-4, 13-2 CL) on Saturday, Feb. 15. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS: iOS (iPhone/iPad) | Android
