SPRING ARBOR, MI. – After a massive win over defending league champion Grace, the Spring Arbor Men's basketball team faced another big test on Saturday, taking on the 13^th ranked team in the country, Indiana Wesleyan. 
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the two squads with 6 different lead changes. Spring Arbor was able to extend their lead to as much as 9 points at 22-13, with just over 12 minutes left, and held that lead until the 5:21 mark before an IWU 3 pointer tied the score at 33. A Wildcat free throw would give them the lead, and they would keep it for the rest of the half, leading Spring Arbor 42-41 going into the break. Dante Favor had an impact performance for the Cougars in the half, leading all scorers in the period with 12 points, including a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc, as well as 2 assists and 2 rebounds.  
 
For as much as the 1^st half was back and forth, the 2^nd half was even more so, with 12 lead changes. Spring Arbor took their first lead of the half at the 18:30 mark on a Trey Cottingham three pointer, before IWU came right back to tie it and retake the lead. This sequence became the norm throughout the half, as the two teams traded blows up to the 3:47 mark, where a Gabe Newhof free throw would tie the game for SAU. Unfortunately, that was the last time Spring Arbor would sniff the lead, as a quick 7-0 run by the Wildcats would represent the knockout punch for the Cougars, as IWU emerged victorious with the 89-83 victory. Newhof was the leading scorer for Spring Arbor in the 2^nd stanza, with 12 points, along with 4 rebounds. 
 
SCORE: Spring Arbor 83, Indiana Wesleyan 89
LOCATION: Marion, IN | Luckey Arena
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 9-2, 3-1 Indiana Wesleyan 7-3, 1-3
 
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Gabe Newhof found himself at the top of the stat sheet again, leading the Cougars with 21 points and also adding 7 rebounds. 
• Joining Newhof in double figures was Dante Favor, Shane Rykse and David Cundiff who all contributed in multiple facets of the game. Favor had his 3^rd double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds, along with 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Rykse had 12 points, 2 rebounds and an assist, while Cundiff nearly had a double-double of his own with 10 points and 9 assists, along with 4 steals and 3 rebounds. 
• Other contributors were Trey Cottingham and Kevyn Robertson, with Cottingham having 7 points, 3 assists and a rebound, while Robertson had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. 
• The leading scorer for Indiana Wesleyan was Griffin Kliewer, who had 23 points on 7 of 16 shooting, including 5 of 11 from behind the arc. 

 
TEAM STATS:
Points off Turnovers: IWU 13, Spring Arbor 16
2^nd Chance Points: IWU 13, Spring Arbor 18
Bench Points: IWU 19, Spring Arbor 18
Points in Paint: IWU 38, Spring Arbor 38
 
 
 
Next Up: 
The Cougars will have a week off before Aquinas makes the trip east to American 1 Credit Union Arena for a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, December 17^th. Tip-off will be at 5:00 PM.