GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Cornerstone Men's Basketball team will get back into action after the holiday with a tough road contest at Goshen College on Thursday night. Head coach
Kim Elders and the team will bring a 14-1 overall record into their final non-conference tilt of the season against a Maple Leafs team that will be playing its ninth opponent of the year that is either receiving votes or ranked inside the NAIA Top-25.
Opponent: Goshen College
Date: Thursday, December 29, 2016
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Goshen, Ind.
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio and Stats
Scouting Goshen College – Head coach Neal Young (4th Year)
The Maple Leafs, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Neal Young, are 9-5 entering the matchup with CU on Thursday. Goshen has played a tough early season schedule as the game vs. Cornerstone will be their seventh of the year against a team either receiving votes or inside the NAIA Top-25. The Maple Leafs picked up a huge upset win over previously No. 1 ranked St. Francis (Ind.) but have gone just 2-2 since with losses to No. 17 Bethel and No. 19 St. Francis (Ill.). GC is balanced on offense as they have 6 players averaging at least 9.4 points per game. Leading the way is Xavier Newsome at 17.1 per night while reigning CL Player of the Week Kevin Phillips is at 11.4. As a team, Goshen is averaging 86.1 points while allowing 81.6.
History vs. the Maple Leafs
Cornerstone is 3-3 all-time against the Maple Leafs and all six meetings have come since the turn of the century. CU is 1-1 in those played in Goshen as they won the last meeting in the Hoosier State, 80-57, in 2010. Two of the last three games have gone into at least overtime with one of those going into two extra frames.
Statistically Speaking
As a team, Cornerstone ranks inside the Top-20 nationally in nine different categories. They are No. 3 in scoring defense (65.9), No. 4 in FT% (.786), No. 8 in Total Blocks (66), No. 9 in Scoring Margin (17.3) and No. 14 in FG% Defense (.409). Individually,
Sam Vander Sluis is No. 7 in Total Blocks (31), Cory Coy is No. 8 in 3-pt FG Made (49) and
Kyle Steigenga is No. 11 in FG% (.648).
Tough Road Stretch
Cornerstone is in the middle of a very difficult road stretch that has them away from Mol Arena from December 21 through January 14. Over that time they will play five away games against teams with a combined record of 52-24.
Road Warriors
Cornerstone has seen much success on the road in recent memory as they have won their last 10 regular season away games. Their last loss during the regular season on the road came against Madonna back on January 16, 2016.
Men's Basketball Contact:
Aaron Sagraves
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