Joey
Carter Richardson - MU Sports Media
62
Union Commonwealth UNION CO 1-3, 0-0
79
Winner Madonna MADONNA 2-1, 0-0
Union Commonwealth UNION CO
1-3, 0-0
62
Final
79
Madonna MADONNA
2-1, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Union Commonwealth UNION CO 32 30 62
Madonna MADONNA 34 45 79

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Madonna Defeats Union Commonwealth 79-62

LIVONIA, Mich. - Madonna University (2-1) turned a one-point second-half lead into a double-digit cushion with an 11-0 run to defeat Union Commonwealth (1-3) 79-62 on Day 1 of the Bernie Holowicki Classic presented by Success Group Mortgage on Friday, Nov. 6, in Livonia. The Crusaders outscored Union Commonwealth 45-30 after halftime.

Madonna erased an early three-point deficit with an 8-0 run that included Joey Liedel's tying 3-pointer and ended with Makyle Doss' 3-pointer for a 14-9 lead. Doss later turned a steal into a fast-break layup, and Joey Miller's dunk extended the advantage to 24-15 with 5:46 left in the first half. Union Commonwealth rallied, tying the game 32-32 on Jabari Covington's 3-pointer following a Madonna turnover with 17 seconds remaining. Miller answered with a putback with three seconds left, sending the Crusaders into halftime ahead 34-32.

Koby Christopher's 3-pointer pushed Madonna's lead to 39-34 early in the second half, but Union Commonwealth moved ahead 43-40 on Sawyer Thompson's fast-break layup with 16:19 remaining. DeAntwan Randall answered with a layup before Liedel made consecutive 3-pointers to complete an 8-0 response. The lead remained tenuous: Covington's basket brought Union Commonwealth within 48-47 with 11:37 left.

Randall sparked the decisive stretch with a layup at 11:06, then supplied the defensive plays that helped Madonna pull away. Randall's steal preceded a Doss 3-pointer, and a block and rebound led to another Liedel 3-pointer. Randall followed with a layup and one free throw to complete the 11-0 run, giving the Crusaders a 59-47 lead with 9:35 remaining. Union Commonwealth never got closer than 10 afterward.

Liedel finished with 23 points and seven rebounds, making five 3-pointers and scoring 16 points in the second half. Randall contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, including 15 points and 10 rebounds after halftime. Doss added 10 points and five steals. Mario Johnson directed the offense with seven assists, while Christopher supplied eight points, five rebounds and four assists. Miller finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists.

Madonna held advantages of 43-36 in rebounds, 20-6 in assists and 7-1 in blocks. Its 18 offensive rebounds helped produce 15 second-chance points. The Crusaders shot 29-of-73 from the field and 12-of-25 at the foul line but made nine 3-pointers to Union Commonwealth's three. Thompson led Union Commonwealth with 14 points, Covington scored 13 and Ali Sakho grabbed 13 rebounds.

Liedel's fifth 3-pointer, following Jahkil Jackson's steal, made it 68-53 with 5:12 left. Liedel later made both free-throw attempts following Meek Ater's technical foul to extend the lead to 77-58 with 1:55 remaining. LJ Walls scored Madonna's final basket on a fast-break layup assisted by Braden Buza with 49 seconds left. Covington's layup with 22 seconds remaining completed the scoring.

The Crusaders are back in action on Saturday November 7th for Day 2 of the Bernie Holowicki Classic as they take on Marian University. Tip off is set for 3:00 PM.
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