Men's Basketball Stumbles in Loss to Tigers in Non-Conference Battle

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball team welcomed the Grace Christian Tigers to Gannon Gymnasium for a non-conference game Wednesday evening, and it would be the Tigers who got the best of the Cougars in a game that ended 71-61.

Jaylen Cole-Williams hit a three to tie the game in the firts minute, followed by a Chris Williams and a Tyree Jones layup to give the Cougars an early 7-3 lead.  Chris Williams and Tyree Jones added another pair of baskets, and the lead would be 11-5.  At the 15-minute mark of the first half, Bennie Crenshaw Jr. hit a three to give Cleary a seven point lead, but the Tigers would go on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 16-16.  GCU would take the lead with 6:24 to go in the half, and used the three ball to expand the lead to eight points with just over one minute to play.  Cleary would cut the lead to four points just before the halftime horn sounded when Jaylen Cole-Williams knocked down a three, as the Cougars trailed 37-33 at the break.

Cleary would cut the lead to one point early in the second half after a Chris Williams layup, but the Tigers would regain the four point advantage after a made three.  After a Tiger timeout, the lead would grow to double-digits where it would remain until just over five minutes to go when Case Conley knocked in a three to make the score 60-52.  Bennie Crenshaw Jr. would score on a layup, cutting the lead to deficit to six points.  After a shooting foul made the deficit eight points once again, Tyree Jones hit one free throw, but a timely made three for Grace Christian gave the visitors an eight point lead once again, as Cleary's comeback bid came to an end.

Chris Williams had a game high 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks to lead the Cougars.  Jaylen Cole-Williams hit 3 threes for 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.  Tyree Jones added 8 points and 5 rebounds.

The loss drops Cleary's record to 2-8 overall.  The Cougars will resume WHAC play on Saturday, December 14, when they travel to Grand Rapids to take on the Cornerstone Golden Eagles.  The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM.