Men's Basketball Earns Win Over Defiance After Crenshaw's Go-Ahead Jumper

(Lansing, MI)-- It was a back and forth game with plenty of drama, but the Cleary Cougar men's basketball team would come out on top after a late go-ahead field goal to earn a 68-66 win over the visiting Yellow Jackets of Defiance College.

Defiance started the game strong, and built an eleven point lead through the first ten minutes of game play, as they led 16-5.  A layup from Tyree Jones would wake up the Cougars from their slumber, and a Jaylen Cole-Williams three on the next possession would cut the deficit to six points.  Jacob Mueller, who made his season debut, scored a jumper to cut the deficit to four points with just under six minutes to go in the half.  Another Mueller basket would make it a two point game.  Cleary would cut the Defiance lead to one point after a pair of Tim Kewley free throws, but the Yellow Jackets would finish the half strong, and Cleary trailed by three with a 30-27 score.

Cleary started the second half on a 10-0 run to take a 37-30 lead.  Defiance would come back to retake the lead at 42-41, and the two teams would trade baskets looking for footing the rest of the game, with the largest lead for either team down the stretch would be four points.  Cleary would build a four point with 6:30 to play after a Tyree Jones layup.  Defiance would tie the game just a minute later.  Cleary would hold a three point lead with just under three minutes to play, but Defiance would tie the game on their next possession after hit a three.  Defiance would then score four more points to take a 66-62 lead with 1:10 to play in the game.  Jacob Mueller had an and-one tip-in to make it a 66-65 game.  Cleary's defense would force a turnover, and Bennie Crenshaw Jr. would hit the go-ahead shot with just over three seconds to play in the game, giving Cleary a 67-66 lead.  The Cougars defense would force another turnover, and force the Yellow Jackets to foul.  Bennie Crenshaw Jr. made one of his two free throws, and Cleary held on for the 68-66 victory.

Jacob Mueller had a game-high 19 points in his Cleary debut, with 7 rebounds as well.  Tyree Jones added 15 points and 5 rebounds, while Jaylen Cole-Williams had 11 points.  Bennie Crenshaw reached double-figures thanks to the go-ahead jumper and finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.  

The win was Cleary's third on the season, and gives them a 3-11 record, 2-6 within the WHAC.  The Cougars will look to make it two in a row on Wednesday, January 15, when they travel to Livonia to take on the Madonna Crusaders at 7:30 PM.