LIVONIA, Mich. — Madonna University turned a tight halftime edge into a convincing win Saturday, riding a dominant second half and a pair of standout performances from DeAntwan Randall and Joey Liedel to a 91-80 victory over Cleary (Mich.). The Crusaders outscored Cleary 51-42 after the break, using efficient shooting and sustained success at the free-throw line to pull away in the nonconference matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Leading 40-38 at the half, Madonna briefly saw its advantage disappear when Nick Ellis tipped in a putback to tie the game at 40-40 early in the second half. The Crusaders responded immediately. Randall converted a fastbreak layup off a feed from Ahmoni Weston with 17:21 left to push Madonna back in front 46-42, sparking the run that would create separation the rest of the way.

From there, Madonna's offense took control. The Crusaders shot 49.1% from the field (26 of 53) and an efficient 52.9% from 3-point range (9 of 17) for the game, repeatedly capitalizing on ball movement that produced 19 assists. Liedel delivered one of the crucial blows with 5:55 remaining, drilling a 3-pointer that extended the Crusaders' cushion to 73-68 and helped keep Cleary at arm's length in the closing minutes.

Randall anchored Madonna's attack with a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes, finishing 8 of 14 from the floor and a decisive 15 of 19 at the foul line. Liedel added 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 5 of 5 at the stripe while contributing six rebounds and three assists. Their combined production helped Madonna finish 30 of 41 (73.2%) at the line, a key factor in building and protecting the lead.

Cleary battled throughout, using timely scoring to stay within reach. In the first half, the Cougars closed the gap when Brian Everhart buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to trim Madonna's lead to 40-38 at the break. Chaz Cobbs Jr. paced Cleary with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including a 6-of-6 effort at the line, and added four assists in 24 minutes. Ellis chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals, helping Cleary stay competitive on the glass and at the defensive end.

Madonna, however, held a 34-31 edge on the boards and generated extra possessions with 10 steals, offsetting its 17 turnovers. The Crusaders' defense limited Cleary to 40.6% shooting from the field and 30.4% from 3-point range, contesting perimeter looks while protecting the paint enough to prevent any sustained comeback in the final minutes.

In the closing stretch, Liedel and Randall sealed the outcome at the stripe, combining on a series of late free throws to stretch the margin to the final 91-80 score with 26 seconds remaining. Behind their balanced inside-out scoring and a strong team effort in the second half, the Crusaders turned a one-possession game into a solid home victory in Livonia.

UP NEXT:
The Crusaders will be back in action on the road on Wednesday, January 21st as they take on Lourdes University. Coach Noel Emenhiser will be looking for his 300th career win as the Crusaders look to stretch their winning streak to 6. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM.