SPRING ARBOR Mich. – The No. 4-seeded Spring Arbor Cougars (19-9, 11-7 CL) are set to host the No. 5-seeded Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (20-8, 10-8 CL) in the 2025 Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday Feb. 25 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. in the American 1 Credit Union Arena. The game will be a "White Out" with the first 100 SAU students receiving a free Cougar basketball t-shirt.

The Cougars finished the season with a win at Saint Francis in dominant fashion, winning 75-57. Gabe Newhof led all scorers with 25 points followed by Kevyn Robertson with 22. The Wildcats finished their season with a victory over Marian on Senior Day, 88-73. Caedmon Bontrager led all scorers with 20 points. 

The matchup involves the two hottest teams in the Crossroads League as IWU enters on a five-game win streak while SAU has won four straight. The game is also a matchup of strengths as IWU enters as the league's highest scoring offense (87.4 PPG) while SAU boasts the league's top defense (69 PPG). The Wildcats are led by Caedmon Bontrager (20.7 PPG) and the Cougars are led by Gabe Newhof (21.4 PPG).

In the regular season, the teams split their two contests with each home team victorious. At Indiana Wesleyan, both teams traded blows in a tightly contested match that saw the lead change nine times. In the end, the Wildcats prevailed 89-83 with a balanced attack that saw four players in double figures.

At Spring Arbor, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, but the Cougars responded with a run late in the first half to claim the lead at the break. In the second half, the Cougars took control of the game and prevailed 84-75. SAU was led by Newhof with 27 points, Shane Rykse with 21, and Travis Grayson with 19.

 
2024-25 CROSSROADS LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Quarterfinals (games at 7 p.m.)
Game 1: No. 1 Grace vs. No. 8 Mount Vernon Nazarene
Game 2: No. 4 Spring Arbor vs. No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan
Game 3: No. 3 Huntington vs. No. 6 Saint Francis
Game 4: No. 2 Bethel vs. No. 7 Taylor
 
Friday, Feb. 28 - Semifinals (games at 7 p.m.)
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of 2
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4   
 
Monday, Mar. 3 - Championship
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6

* Each game hosted by the better-seeded team *