Anderson vs CUAA
Kellen Burke - MU Sports Media
Junior guard Isaac Anderson led the Crusaders to victory with career highs in points (32) and rebounds (13).
68
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS 13-13, 10-10
72
Winner Madonna MADONNA 22-4, 18-2
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS
13-13, 10-10
68
Final
72
Madonna MADONNA
22-4, 18-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS 38 30 68
Madonna MADONNA 38 34 72

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Kellen Burke

Crusaders win the WHAC with victory over Saints

LIVONIA, Mich. - Hoping to extend their six-game win streak and secure first place in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, the No. 14 Madonna Crusaders (21-4, 17-2) returned home to face the Aquinas College Saints (13-11, 10-8). Throwing records and standings out the window, the Saints came into ACCU Arena with a vengeance after their close loss to the Crusaders earlier in the season. They would stay neck-and-neck with the Crusaders until the final buzzer, but junior guard Isaac Anderson would lead the Crusaders to victory, posting career-highs in both points and rebounds with 32 and 13 respectively while also icing the Saints in the final seconds. Anderson's clutch performance helped the Crusaders secure a 72-68 victory and officially become the 2023-24 WHAC Regular Season Champions for the first time in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Saints got off to a hot start, taking a double-digit lead in the opening minutes of the game over the Crusaders. However, the Crusaders would start to find their groove five minutes into play, as a slam-dunk from junior forward Brendan Young got things started. Isaac Anderson followed him up with a step-back three-pointer to get him on the board. On the next possession, senior guard Garrett Balazsi dropped his first three pointer of the game, coming off his career-day against the Cardinals on Wednesday. Two free throws from Anderson would give the Crusaders their first lead of the night ten minutes into the game at 21-20.

While the Saints would take the lead back shortly after, Anderson would go on to score ten points in the final six minutes of the first half to tie the game up at 38-38 going into halftime. Anderson kept the Crusaders alive with 20 points and 7 rebounds in the first half while shooting 70-percent from the field.

The Crusaders came out hot with ten unanswered points to start the second half, taking a 48-38 lead just four minutes in. Just as it seemed the Crusaders were beginning to pull away, the Saints battled back to make it a one-point game with ten minutes left to play at 51-50.

The Saints kept it within one basket until the final thirty-seconds of the game. Anderson drained two clutch free-throws to make it a four-point game with under half-a-minute remaining, but the Saints would answer with a layup to cut the lead back to two. On the final possession, Anderson would blow past the Saints' defense on the inbound, dropping a fast-break dunk to officially ice the game. The Crusaders would edge out a 72-68 victory, securing their place as Regular Season WHAC Champions for the first time in program history.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Anderson led the team in points and rebounds with 32 and 13, both career highs.
  • Young scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds with five assists.
  • Matthew MacLellan also scored double-digits with 10.
  • Balazsi shot 2-of-3 from behind the arc for a total of eight points.
UP NEXT: 

Having won today, the Crusaders are officially the 2023-24 WHAC Regular Season Champions with two games remaining. They will head to Cleary University (2-22, 2-17) on Wednesday, February 21st to face the Cougars in their final road game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm from Gannon Gym in Lansing, Michigan.

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