WYOMING, Mich. – After two full weeks off for Christmas, the No. 24 Golden Eagles got back to action with a big non-conference road win down the road at Grace Christian. CU used a 15-4 run to start the second half to take home a 68-59 win to close the 2019 portion of the schedule and sweep the Tigers on the season. Cornerstone is now 10-6 overall as they return to conference action after the New Year at Rochester on January 4 at 3 p.m. 

What you need to know? 

• Cornerstone got on the board first as Gabe Meriwether hit a three on their first possession to take an early lead. 
• The two teams then traded buckets as Grace called a timeout with the game tied at 10 and just over 15 minutes to play in the first half. 
• After the timeout, both offenses struggled to find the bucket as CU was held scoreless for roughly five minutes until Trent Summerfield hit a three to tie the game at 13. 
• Grace started to heat up from the three-point line later in the first half, holding a 24-21 lead with just under six minutes remaining in the first half. 
• Christian Rodriguez and Carter Nyp each hit deep threes to highlight a 10-0 run for the Golden Eagles out of the timeout to give CU their largest lead at 31-24. 
• Cornerstone was able to maintain the lead going into the half despite a few late turnovers, holding a 37-33 advantage over the Tigers.  
• CU did well in transition early in the second half, increasing their lead to a game high 12 after a Brent Hibbitts layup and a Christian Rodriguez three, forcing Grace Christian into a timeout. 
• Cornerstone began the second half on a 15-4 run to take a 52-37 lead. 
• Drew Knickerbocker hit back-to-back threes to bring the Golden Eagle lead to 55-39 and force the Tigers into another timeout. 
• Grace picked up the defensive pressure going on a mid-second half run to cut the deficit back to just eight points at 61-53 to force CU into a timeout. 
• After the timeout, Kyle Hayes hit a big layup and Brent Hibbitts hit a huge three to increase the lead back to 13 with just over five minutes to play. 
• The offense slowed down in the final five minutes, but CU held off Grace to earn a 68-59 win and sweep the Tigers on the year. 

 
Let's Get Social
 

Good Game!! CU-68 GC-59 End of Game

Good games for Kyle Hayes (16 points 15 rebounds (double double alert ??) and Christian Rodriguez (13 points and 5 assists) @khayes_12 @Assist_K1ng

— Cornerstone Basketball (@CornerstoneMBB) December 28, 2019

 
By the Numbers 

• Kyle Hayes led the team with 16 points and 15 points recording his second double-double of the year with both coming against Grace Christian. 
• Christian Rodriguez was the lone other Golden Eagle in double figures with 13 points. 
• CU held Grace to just 32.3% from the field and 25.71% in the second half. 
• Cornerstone tied a season high with 56 rebounds in the win. 

 
 
What's Next? 
Cornerstone will have another long break before returning to WHAC play at Rochester on Saturday, January 4 at 3 p.m. 
 
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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