SPRING ARBOR, MI. – While the year may now be 2025, the Spring Arbor Men's Basketball team looked to continue their hot start to the season from 2024, as they returned home to take on Taylor in a key Crossroads League matchup to kick of the new year. 
 
The contest started off even throughout the 7 minutes, as the two teams were deadlocked at 9-9 at the 12:49 mark, but that's when the Cougars got hot. Spring Arbor went on a 22-4 run that spanned more than 11 minutes, and took a commanding lead into the break, 35-19.  Dante Favor and Travis Grayson spearheaded the Cougar run, as Favor had 7 points and Grayson had 6 points.
 
The second half didn't see any big run like the first half, as Spring Arbor held serve throughout the stanza, and Taylor could not mount any sort of comeback. The Cougars coasted to the victory, with a final score of 64-47. Gabe Newhof led the offense in the half with 10 points and 2 assists. 
 
SCORE: Spring Arbor 64, Taylor 47
LOCATION: Spring Arbor, MI | American 1 Credit Union Arena
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 12-3, 4-1 | Taylor 9-6, 2-3
 
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Leading the scoring for the Cougars was Gabe Newhof with 20 points, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line, along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a block. Newhof's 20 point performance is his 10^th game this season with 20 or more points. 
• Joining Newhof in double figures were Travis Grayson, Kevyn Robertson and Dante Favor. Grayson had 14 points along with 4 rebounds and an assist, while Robertson and Favor both recorded double-doubles with 11 points and 10 rebounds apiece. 
• Favor's double-double is his 6^th this season, and 5^th in the last 7 games for the dynamic sophomore forward. 
• The leading scorer for Taylor was Nate Paarlberg, who had 17 points on 5 of 8 shooting, with all of his field goals being from behind the arc. 

 
 
TEAM STATS:
FG Percentage: Taylor 30.4%, Spring Arbor 41.5%
3PT Percentage: Taylor 31.0%, Spring Arbor 20.0%
FT Percentage: Taylor 40.0%, Spring Arbor 84.2%
Rebounds: Taylor 32, Spring Arbor 42
Assists: Taylor 12, Spring Arbor 13
Points off Turnovers: Taylor 16, Spring Arbor 14
2^nd Chance Points: Taylor 4, Spring Arbor 12
Bench Points: Taylor 2, Spring Arbor 6
Points in Paint: Taylor 16, Spring Arbor 36
 
 
 
Next Up: 
The Cougars will hit the road to take on Goshen for another Crossroads League matchup on Wednesday, January 8th. Tip-off will be at 7:30 PM.