LIVONIA, Mich. - Coming off their blowout win over Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent Lawrence Tech, the Crusaders returned home to face the Racers of the University of Northwestern Ohio. In a matchup with playoff implications for both teams, the Racers played much harder than their record would suggest. Nonetheless, the Crusaders would come out on top of the hard-fought battle, winning 72-64.


HOW IT HAPPENED

Brendan Young opened up the game with a greenlight three-point shot on the Crusaders' first possession. On the very next possession, Blake Banks lit up the court with an electric dunk, seeming to set the tone early. While it seemed like the Crusaders would run away with the game early following those exciting first possessions, the Racers kept themselves in the ball game, tying up the game 8-8 five minutes in. Just as the Racers took their first lead of the night, Young quickly stole it back with another knockdown three-pointer. The Crusaders stayed hot from three as Mark Mettie swished one in the face of a Racer defender to extend the Crusaders' lead to five. However, the Racers wouldn't give up, keeping it close throughout the first half. With just over two minutes remaining they would reclaim the lead, 27-26. By the end of the half, the Crusaders seemed to have all of their early momentum stolen away from them, entering halftime down 29-28.

After the disappointing first half, the Crusaders were hungry coming out of the break. Banks knocked down a three pointer to tie it up at 31-31 for the Crusaders first points of the half. On the next possession, Mettie would reclaim the lead for the Crusaders with a powerful slam dunk. Mettie refused to slow down, dropping another dunk on a Racer player not two minutes later. With that play, the Crusaders finally seemed to find their rhythm, going up by seven and forcing the Racers into taking a timeout. The regroup didn't seem to help the Racers much as Madonna continued to keep them at bay. Another three pointer from Banks gave the Crusaders their first double-digit lead of the night, going up 54-43 with just under ten minutes to play. With the Racers unable to put together any sort of comeback, the Crusaders would comfortably escape with the win: 72-64.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Mettie led Madonna with 21 points
• Henry Speight recorded 18 points.
• Matthew MacLellan grabbed a team high seven rebounds.
• As a team, the Crusaders were 21-of-60 from the field. 

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will travel to Sylvania, Ohio to face conference opponent RV Lourdes University for the second time this season. Tip-off is at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 8th from Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.

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