Crusaders Pull Away Late to Defeat Men's Basketball

(Livonia, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball team battled, but ultimately came up short, as they fell on the road to the Madonna Crusaders 91-80. 

After some early back and forth action, Madonna would get hot from behind the arc to build an early double-digit lead through the first seven minutes of game action.  Cleary would make a small run, started by Tim Kewley, and continued with a made three by Chaz Cobbs Jr. to cut the deficit to 22-11.  Madonna would answer that run with one of their own, building a 27-11 lead just past the halfway point of the opening half.  The final ten minutes of the half would favor the Cougars, as they were able to claw their way back into the game.  A jumpber by Zane Kemp would get the Cougars back within ten points, and one possession later, Kemp would knock down a three to make it a five point game.  Brian Everhart would hit a three with 0:12 left in the half to send the teams into the half with Cleary trailing 40-38.

Nick Ellis would open the second half with a tip-in to tie the game at 40-40.  Madonna would quickly retake the lead, but were unable to pull away, as Cleary hung around in striking distance.   Trailing by four points, Chaz Cobbs Jr. would convert an and-one to get the Cougars within one point.  After Madonna scored on the other end, Brian Everhart would make 2/3 free throws to keep the Cougars within one point.  After Madonna took a four point lead, Brian Everhart would score back to back three pointers to tie the game at 66-66.  The Crusaders would then go on a 7-1 run, putting Cleary in a 73-67 hole with 6:00 left in the game.  Cleary would get it to a three point deficit after Zane Kemp scored a layup, but the Crusaders would pull away once again, this time building an 84-72 lead with 3:00 to play.  Cleary would go on an 8-1 run, cutting the deficit to 85-80 after Nick Ellis dunked it home in transition, but the Crusaders would answer on the other end, pulling away, and scoring the final six points of the game to win 91-80.

Chaz Cobbs Jr. had a team high 19 points and 4 assists off the bench to lead the Cougars.  Brian Everhart would add 14 points off the bench.  Bennie Crenshaw Jr. had 11 points, while Zane Kemp and Nick Ellis each had 10 points to round out the double-figure scorers.

The loss drops Cleary's record to 6-11 overall, 5-7 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will stay on the road for their next game, with a trip to Grand Rapids on Wednesday to play the Aquinas College Saints.  The game is set to begin at 7:30 PM.