Men's Basketball Drops Final Regular Season Game at Rochester Christian

(Rochester Hills, MI)--  The Cleary Cougar men's basketball dug themselves into a first half deficit, came all the way back to tie in the second half, but ran out of gas, as they fell to the Rochester Christian Warriors 86-78 Saturday afternoon.

RCU had built a 12-3 lead over the first six minutes of game action, and Cleary wasn't able to make their first field goal until Bennie Crenshaw Jr. hit a jumper to make the score 12-5.  RCU would grow their lead to eleven points after a triplet of free throws, and it would be a thirteen point deficit by the halfway mark of the opening half.  An AJ Hess three pointer would get the Cougars back within twelve points, but the offensive woes would continue, and the Warriors built a fifteen point lead.  A Chris Williams jumper, followed by a Jaylen Cole-Williams three pointer got the Cougars back within nine points.  The Warriors would respond, built up a fourteen point lead.  Cleary would cut into that lead, and get the score to 40-32, but RCU would hit a three before the horn sounded, and Cleary would trail 43-32 at the break.

RCU would immediately build their lead back to fourteen points to start the half.  Tyree Jones and Bennie Crenshaw Jr. would score back to back baskets, and the deficit would be back to ten points.  Chris Williams would make and convert an and-one layup and free throw to get the Cougars back within seven points.  After another stop, Tyree Jones would get fouled and hit a pair of free throws, with Cleary trailing 44-49.  After RCU went back up by seven points, Jaylen Cole-Williams hit another three to cut the deficit to four points.  A pair of Jacob Mueller free throws would make it a two point game with just under twelve minutes to play.  After another Cougar stop, Jaylen Cole-Williams tied the game at 53-53.  With 9:26 to play, Bennie Crenshaw Jr. made a layup to give the Cougars their first lead of the game.  RCU responded with a run and rebuilt a five point lead.  Cleary would get back within one point when they trailed 73-72 with 4:57 to play, but RCU would go on a game-clinching run to take control of the game, with the final score being 86-78.

Tyree Jones led CU with 17 points and 11 rebounds, with 4 steals.  Chris Williams also had 17 points and 8 rebounds.  Jaylen Cole-Williams hit three 3's en route to his 15 points and 4 rebounds.  AJ Hess had 14 points off the bench.

Cleary ends the regular season 8-18, 7-13 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be on the road for Tuesday's WHAC Tournament First Round game.  Details of that game and who the opponent will be are still being finalized.