THE BASICS
Score: Madonna 85, No. 22 Indiana Tech 73
Record: MU (17-7, 10-4 WHAC), IT (15-10, 11-4 WHAC)
Location: Schaefer Center - Fort Wayne, Ind.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Madonna University men's basketball team team outscored 22nd-ranked Indiana Tech by 21 points in the second half to sweep the season series with the Warriors, 85-73 on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Crusaders within half a game of the second-place Warriors in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference standings.

It was a back-and-forth first half that featured five ties and six lead changes. It was the Warriors who took control first as they used a 18-4 run to turn a 27-25 MU lead into a 12-point Indiana Tech advantage. The Crusaders were able to gain some momentum at the end of the period as Dwight Burton was fouled on a last-second 3-pointer and converted all three free throws to make it a 43-34 halftime deficit.

The Blue and Gold took over in the second half as MU used a 24-7 run to take a 58-50 lead with 13:39 to play. Burton netted 10 of the 27 points to give Madonna the lead. A 10-2 run by the home team tied the game at 60, but that's when the Crusaders wrestled back the lead for good. Joshua Reynolds was fouled beyond the arc and converted three free throws to give MU the advantage. Four straight Mark Mettie points, which included a dunk, highlighted a 14-3 MU run that had the visitors up 74-63 with 4:16 to play. The Crusaders converted free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

TURNING POINT

• A 14-3 Crusaders run from 9:00-4:21 in the second half

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Burton finished with a game-high 23 points and grabbed six rebounds to go with a team-best four assists and three steals. Reynolds added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while Jonathan Swift netted 13 points and Mettie added 11 to go with a team-best nine rebounds.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Madonna hit nine 3-pointers to Indiana Tech's five and finished the contest 18-of-21 (85.7%) from the charity stripe while the Warriors went 12-for-23 (52.2%) at the line.
• Both teams netted 32 points in the paint while the Warriors outscored the Crusaders in points off turnovers (16-9) and second-chance points (13-12)

NOEL'S NOTIONS

• "After a fairly lackluster first half, the guys gave an incredible effort, defensively, in the second half and we used our strengths better and got the ball inside. We limited turnovers on the offensive end and forced some defensively that let us get out in transition. The guys made big plays in big moments and they deserve all the credit. They really did a fantastic job in a tough environment against a tough opponent." - Head Coach Noel Emenhiser

UP NEXT

• Madonna returns home as they host No. 7 Cornerstone University at the MU Activities Center. Tip off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
• It is Hawaiian night and will feature a Luau Party with free leis, free rally towels from Alliance Catholic Credit Union, free pizza and other prizes.
• At halftime of the men's basketball team we will recognize the softball team with WHAC championship rings.
• Live coverage of the game will be available via the Madonna Athletics Network at www.mucrusaders.com/live.

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