SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team held off a late rally by Aquinas College to edge the Saints 68-63 on Friday afternoon at the McDonald Athletic Center.
 
Aquinas overcame a 15-point second half deficit, but the Cougars responded with a quick 6-0 scoring run, including a clutch 3-pointer from Eli White, and two big defensive stops to secure the victory.
 
Gabe Newhof turned in his fourth straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Austin Braun also finished with 17 points.
 
 
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spring Arbor 68, Aquinas 63
LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 6-8, Aquinas 6-8
 
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Spring Arbor got off to a fast start outscoring Aquinas 10-2 in the first four minutes.
• The Cougars held on to their lead throughout the rest of the half and took a 39-28 lead into halftime.
• Spring Arbor continued to stretch its lead early in the second stanza. At the 10:43 mark, a 3-pointer by White put SAU up by 15, 54-39 – the largest lead of the afternoon.
• With the margin at 10, 60-50, with 6:05 remaining, Aquinas used an 11-0 run over a three-minute stretch to grab its first lead of the game, 61-60.
• However, Spring Arbor answered immediately. A bucket from Kevyn Robertson put SAU back in front and White followed with a huge 3-pointer to boost the lead to four, 65-61, with 1:21 to play.
• Aquinas had one final chance in the closing seconds, but a game-tying 3-pointer came up short and Travis Grayson helped seal the win with a pair of free throws.
• Newhof recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way. Braun added 17 points while White finished with 12 and four assists.

 
 
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor closes out the 2022 calendar year against Siena Heights University in Adrian on Saturday, Dec. 31.