THE BASICS
Score: #RV Madonna 95, #RV Siena Heights University 84
Record: MU (15-6, 8-3 WHAC), SHU (10-8, 7-4 WHAC)
Location: MU Activities Center - Livonia, Mich.

LIVONIA, Mich. – The trio of Dwight Burton, Jonathan Swift and Joshua Reynolds combined for 67 points as the Madonna University men's basketball team used a 60-43 second half to take a 95-84 win from Siena Heights University on Saturday evening. Both teams received votes in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll and with the win, MU is now in a tie for second with Indiana Tech in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference standings, just one game behind leader Cornerstone.

Madonna led early in the contest by as many as five point, but a 9-3 run midway through the period gave the Saints their first lead and the visitors led by as many as nine points, 41-32, with 15 seconds to go in the period, but Burton made sure the Blue and Gold had the momentum at the break as he nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to six.

After SHU scored four of the first six points to begin the second half the Crusaders defense buckled down and held the Saints without a basket for the next 3:10 while the offense when ton a 12-0 run to turn an eight point deficit into a four-point lead, 49-45. After a 3-pointer by the Saints cut the lead to one, the Crusaders went on a 20-3 run, which included 18 unanswered points, to take a 15-point, 66-51 lead with 10:26 to play. A Burton layup push the lead to a game-high 20 points and although SHU cut the lead to 11, the Crusaders made enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

TURNING POINT

• Madonna went on a 14-4 run to begin the second half that coincided with the Saints going 3:10 without a made basket.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Swift nearly had a triple-double has he scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists while Reynolds added 20 points and six rebounds and Burton had a game-high 27 points and five boards.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Reynolds netted 17 of his 20 points in the second half as the Crusaders shot 65.5 percent (19-for-29) in the period which included a 4-for-8 (50%) mark from long range.
• Madonna scored 23 points at the free throw line while the Saints finished 17-for-24 at the charity stripe.
• The Saints shot 58.3 percent (7-for-12) from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half as Jaquantay Rouser went 4-for-4 from long range; SHU made just two three's in the second half and Rouser scored just two points

CRUSADERS VISION

NOEL'S NOTIONS

• On the turning point: "The adjustment was we really got into them on defense. In the first half we were there, but they were able to get the shot off. In the second half they didn't have many choices, we contested at the rim and we rebounded. When you don't allow them to shoot the shots they want and you don't give them second chances it changes the dynamic of the game and that's what we were able to do in the second half."

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders enjoy a week off before Rochester College visits the MU Activities Center on Saturday, Jan. 19 with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.
• Live coverage will be available via the Madonna Athletics Network at www.mucrusaders.com/live.

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