Men's Basketball Unable to Slow Down Blue Devils

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball team faced one of the WHAC's most prolific offenses Saturday, and were unable to slow down the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils at Gannon Gym.

LTU got things going with a made three pointer, but a Tyree Jones three tied the game, and a Chris Williams layup gave the Cougars an early 5-3 lead.  After LTU hit another three pointer to take the lead, the Blue Devils would start to expand that lead, and built a double-digit lead just past the halfway mark of the first half.  The lead would continue to grow for the visitors, growing to as many as 15 points, but Cleary would go on a run, cutting into that lead, thanks to some made free throws and offensive rebounds and putbacks.  With the deficit at nine, the Blue Devils would finish the half on a run, regaining their double-digit lead, and going into the break leading Cleary 47-32.

The second half saw the Blue Devils continue to shoot lights out, and the double-digit lead turned to 20 points four minutes into second half play.  AJ Hess would spark a run for the Cougars, knocking down an open three and adding four made free throws, helping the Cougars narrow the deficit back to 10 points, with just under twelve minutes to play.  LTU would answer that run with a run of their own, rebuilding their lead, and ultimately the largest lead of the game, as the Blue Devils went on to win 91-71.

Bennie Crenshaw Jr. was the high scorer for the Cougars, with 14 points and 5 rebounds.  Brockton Kohler added 10 points off the bench for Cleary.

The Cougars fall to 1-16, 1-11 in the WHAC.  Cleary will be back on the road on Wednesday, when they travel to Ft. Wayne to take on Indiana Tech in a WHAC contest.  The game will get underway at 7:30 PM.