LIVONIA, Mich. - There is no such thing as an easy game in college basketball, but especially not when you have to face the No. 8 ranked team in the country. Starting off the season with an insanely tough out-of-conference schedule has almost become routine for the Crusaders at this point, with them set to face two Top-20 teams within a five-day span. First, they faced the No. 8 ranked Grace College Lancers today, the highest-ranked team to come into ACCU Arena since the No. 7 ranked Lourdes University Gray Wolves last season. The match absolutely lived up to the hype, with an overtime shoot out that stretched both teams into triple-digits. In the end, the Lancers would pull ahead by a basket to escape ACCU Arena with a 103-100 win over the Crusaders.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

From the get-go, the Lancers showed that they did not travel all the way to ACCU Arena to play around. They started off with seven straight unanswered points, before forward Brendan Young got the on the board with a three-point play off of an and-one layup. Guard Isaac Anderson would help cut into their lead with a step-back three-pointer to open things up for the Crusaders' offense. 

Once the Crusaders found their offensive rhythm they were still unable to keep up with the Lancers for a majority of the first half, with the Lancers shooting nearly 70% as a team in the half. With just under eight minutes to go, the Crusaders would go on a seven-point run to catch back up; capped off by an and-one tip in from Satchel Love to bring them within one point of the Lancers. The Lancers would end the run with a basket on the next possession, but then Anderson would tie things up with a huge three-pointer on the following possession. With a steal from Love to give Young a fastbreak layup, the Crusaders took the lead for the first time 32-30 with just under five minutes in the half.

Just as the Crusaders seemed to hit a turning point, the Lancers would go on a run to end the half, taking a 46-38 lead going into the break.

The Crusaders would come out of the break with a newfound spark as guard Ethan Emerzian opened things up with a fastbreak three in transition. A pair of layups from Emerzian and center Matthew MacLellan would bring the Crusaders back within a basket just two minutes into the second half. A pair of free throws from guard Ahmoni Weston would tie things up at 48-48, forcing the Lancers to regroup.

The Lancers would answer with a three which Anderson would quickly match with a transition three of his own. For the remaining time of regulation play, the Lancers would attempt to pull away like they did in the first half, only for the Crusaders to remain relentlessly on their heels; never trailing by more than four points.

Down by three points, 93-90, with six seconds left, it seemed as though the Crusaders would need a miracle. When they missed the game-tying three, you could feel the hearts of every fan at ACCU Arena drop. But just when it seemed the Crusaders were finished, Anderson would breath life back into them, snagging the rebound and putting it back at the buzzer while being hammered by a Lancer defender for the and-one. Stepping to the line to with the team on his back, Anderson sunk the free throw to take things to overtime, 93-93.

However, history would soon repeat itself as despite their best efforts, the Crusaders once again found themselves down by three points as the clock ticked down to the final seconds of overtime. This time, they were unable to recreate the miracle that got them there, as the clock hit zero with a score of Lancers 103, Crusaders 100.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Anderson scored 21 points on 4-of-6 from three.
• Emerzian posted 17 points, six rebounds, and a team-high four assists.
• MacLellan scored a season-high 16 points.
• Young and Love each posted 12 point, 10 rebound double-doubles.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders' gauntlet of an out-of-conference schedule will continue next week when they return to ACCU Arena on Wednesday to face the No. 19 Huntington University (Ind.) Forresters. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm on November 13.