Ryan Nunn Championship Trophy
Ryan Mitchell, MU Sports Information
Senior guard Ryan Nunn hoists the NAIA First & Second Round Champions trophy after the Crusaders defeat the Shawnee State Bears on their home court of ACCU Arena.
78
Shawnee State SHAWNEE 21-10, 13-4
81
Winner Madonna MADONNA 27-6, 19-3
Shawnee State SHAWNEE
21-10, 13-4
78
Final
81
Madonna MADONNA
27-6, 19-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Shawnee State SHAWNEE 38 40 78
Madonna MADONNA 46 35 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Kellen Burke

Crusaders keep dancing; head to Sweet 16 for first time ever

LIVONIA, Mich. - After escaping the first round of the NAIA National Tournament against Dordt University by the skin of their teeth, the No. 5 seeded Crusaders found themselves matched-up against the No. 13 seeded Shawnee State Bears in the second round. Having upset the No. 4 seeded Roosevelt Lakers yesterday, the Bears proved they are a dangerous playoff team. While the Crusaders started off hot with a lead after the first half, the Bears turned up in the second half to take it to the final possession. In the final seconds of the game, it was their all-conference forward Brendan Young who sent them to the Sweet 16 with two free throws to ice the game. The Crusaders took an 81-78 victory in their home stadium of ACCU Arena, heading to Kansas City for the first time in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Crusaders came out firing, taking an early 6-0 lead after a deep-three from their fifth-year senior point guard Devin Dunn. Dunn would stay hot in the first half, posting 13 points with three three-pointers and three steals in the first twenty-minutes.

The Crusaders steadily held on to the lead in the first ten minutes of play, but the Bears would finally catch up with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. Senior guard Ryan Nunn would tie things right back up at 25-25 with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the wing. Graduate forward Jordan Graham would score two quick layups to put the Crusaders back ahead. Dunn's third three-pointer of the half put them ahead by six points with just over six minutes remaining.

The Crusaders would go on a run to end the first half. A contested layup by the all-conference center Matthew MacLellan extended the lead to 42-35 with just over two minutes remaining. A missed three by the Bears on the next possession led to an and-one fast-break layup for the Crusaders' all-conference forward Brendan Young to put them ahead double-digits. A late bucket by the Bears cut the lead back to single digits, but the Crusaders still led by a respectable 46-38 after twenty minutes of action.

The Crusaders would continue their run to start the second half. Young laid down a monstrous block on the Bears' 6'7" forward, then took it down the court for the first points of the second half. The Crusaders' all-conference guard Isaac Anderson hit a jumpshot from the elbow to put himself in double-digits and the Crusaders up by 12 in the opening minutes of play.

After their explosive run, the Crusaders would begin to cool off while the Bears were finally heating up following their slow first half. With ten minutes remaining in play, the Bears would tie the game at 61-61, with it all coming down to the final quarter. 

From there, the game would remain a one-possession match until the final buzzer. Both teams battled back-and-forth but neither were able to pull away.

Up by one point in the final six seconds, the Bears would foul Young and send him to the free throw line. With the game, season, and history on the line, the Crusaders called upon Number 11 to send them to the Sweet 16. Young would drain both with a smile, giving the Crusaders a three-point lead. The Bears would throw up one last Hail Mary, but the full-court heave hit hardwood as the clock ran out on them. Crusader Nation stormed the court of ACCU Arena as the players hoisted the NAIA First & Second Round Champions trophy. The final score of the final home game for the Crusaders this season: 81-78 Madonna.





INSIDE NUMBERS:
  • Young led the team with 26 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
  • Anderson scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds.
  • Dunn scored 15 points on 3-of-5 from three and swiped five steals.
  • MacLellan also got double-digits with 13 and seven rebounds.
UP NEXT: 

For the first time in school history, the Crusaders will head to Kansas City for the Sweet 16 of the NAIA National Tournament. They will play the winner of the game between defending national champions, No. 1 seeded College of Idaho, and their WHAC rivals, the No. 8 seeded Cornerstone Golden Eagles on March 21st, 2024. 

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