Marion, Indiana. – The Crusaders earned a bid into the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament as a 12 seed and ultimately matched up with the five seed Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats. This would be the second meeting for the Crusaders and Wildcats as Indiana Wesleyan had traveled to Livonia, Michigan earlier this season for a non-conference match up. The Wildcats would come out as the victors in this match up, but not as an easy task as the Crusaders keep the game close throughout most of the game.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Wildcats would jump out early as they would generate a 15-to-4 lead only 3:51 minutes into the first half. As Indiana Wesleyan held the lead, the Crusaders would slowly chop away until they tied the game at 25 points a piece at the 9:46 minute mark. The remainder of the half would see back-and-forth action between these two teams. The Crusaders would tie the game again later in the first half, but they would not take the lead. The Wildcats would feel the pressure though as the Crusaders would send the game into halftime with only holding a 2-point deficit.
 
Several Crusaders would register points as seven total players would score at least once. Isaac Anderson would lead the team in points at the half by shooting 5-for-7 from the field and securing 13 points. Ahmoni Weston and Nikola Sasaroga would contribute big as Weston would go into the half with nine points and Sasaroga with eight.
 
Following halftime, Madonna would bring the energy early and secure their first lead of the game at the 18:28 minute mark. The Crusaders and Wildcats would exchange baskets made with both teams, taking the lead at some point for most of the second half. Indiana Wesleyan would start to pull away around the 7:45 minute mark and continue it for the rest of the game. The Wildcats would grow their lead to around 16 and 18 and carry that lead to the finish line.
 
Madonna was not going down without a fight as Anderson would finish with 19 points, five rebounds, and one assist. Ethan Emerzian would show his presence in the second half by earning 14 points, four assists, and one steal to end the game. Matthew MacLellan would perform well with 12 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Lastly, Sasaroga would be a offensive force to help keep this game close by notching ten points, four rebounds, and two steals.
 
Ultimately, the Crusaders would fall short of repeating their sweet 16 run in the 2023-24 season but finish the 2024-25 season with a respectable 19 wins and 12 losses after battling through early-season adversity. In conference play, Madonna would secure 14 wins and only six losses with a ten-game winning streak during the season.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Madonna would outscore the Wildcats in fast break points 8-to-6.
• Anderson shot 57 percent from the field and 100 percent from the free throw line.
• Brendan Young brought down nine rebounds.

 
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