GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 2 ranked men's basketball team opens postseason play on Thursday as they start the WHAC Tournament as top seed. The Golden Eagles will host the eighth-seed Siena Heights University with the winner advancing to Saturday's semifinals. Andy Smith will have the call live on the Cornerstone Sports Network (CSPN).

Opponent: Siena Heights
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats (CSPN)
 
Scouting Siena Heights – Head coach Joe Pechota (5th Season)
Head coach Joe Pechota, in his fifth year at the helm of the program, has the Saints at 16-14 overall and 10-12 in league action entering the WHAC Tournament. The Saints tied for 7th in the final standings with Marygrove but fell to 8th via a tie-breaker. Siena Heights is a tough defensive team that limits their opponents to 69.0 points per game while allowing them to shoot only .440 from the field. Offensively, SHU is led by Jerrell Martin who is averaging 13.7 points per night and he is followed in double-figures by Chris Peral (12.5) and Tony Jackson (10.3). SHU puts up 69.3 points as a team and shoots 42.9 from the field.
 
WHAC Tournament History
Cornerstone has controlled the WHAC Tournament since the conference was created in 1992-93. In the 24 conference tournaments played, the Golden Eagles have appeared in the title game in 18, winning nine of them including two of the last three seasons over Davenport. The Golden Eagles are 46-15 all-time in the tourney.
 
WHAC Tourney Champions
Cornerstone has won nine WHAC Tournament titles in their history. CU won them in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. The Golden Eagles reached the WHAC finals in 13 straight seasons from 1999-2011 and have failed to get out of the first round only once.
 
Auto-Bid for NAIA National Tournament
The winner of the WHAC Tournament receives one of the conference's two auto-bids to the NAIA DII National Tournament. Cornerstone has claimed one as the regular season champion. If CU were to win the tourney, the runner-up would then receive the auto bid.
 
NAIA Top-25 Poll
Following closely behind the Union (Ky.) in the latest Top-25 Poll is Cornerstone earning the No. 2 rank this edition with six first-place votes and 306 points. Union had 307 total votes and the other six first-place votes.
 
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves
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