SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team dropped a pair of games while hosting the Crossroads League/WHAC Challenge this weekend at American 1 Credit Union Arena.
The Cougars fell to Cornerstone University 86-69 on Friday before an 82-62 loss to Indiana Tech, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, on Saturday. Spring Arbor moves to 1-2 on the season.
Against Cornerstone,
Connor Bush led three Cougars in double figures with 15 points and eight rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.
Nathan Keil provided 13 points and four rebounds off the bench, while
Brandon Trilli added 12 points and six rebounds.
Jayden Nimako contributed six points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Isaiah Green dished out four assists.
Cornerstone shot 56.4 percent from the field and connected on 11 of 24 attempts from 3-point range. Kayden Bird led the Golden Eagles with 30 points, making eight 3-pointers, while Levi Schultz finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles held a 44-33 halftime lead and extended their advantage early in the second half behind three Bird 3-pointers.
Spring Arbor finished with a 37-30 rebounding advantage and committed just nine turnovers, but shot 39.0 percent from the field and 5-for-19 from beyond the arc.
On Saturday against the Warriors, Nimako posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, setting career-highs in both categories.
Trilli led SAU with 14 points and added five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Bush scored 10 points, while
Kolt Nelson contributed five points and six rebounds.
Spring Arbor took a 37-34 lead into halftime, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and making four of nine 3-point attempts in the opening half.
Indiana Tech turned the game in its favor after the break. With SAU leading 39-36, the Warriors connected on three consecutive 3-pointers to move in front 45-39. Indiana Tech outscored the Cougars 48-25 in the second half, making nine of 17 attempts from long range.
Dallas Roberts scored 19 points and Logan Beaston added 18 for the Warriors. The pair combined for 11 of Indiana Tech's 14 3-pointers.
SAU shot 37.9 percent for the game, while Indiana Tech finished at 47.6 percent and held a 44-36 rebounding advantage.
Spring Arbor returns to action at the RCU Crossover in Rochester Hills, Michigan, facing host Rochester Christian University on Friday, Nov. 6 before meeting Cleary University on Saturday, Nov. 7. Both games are scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
