GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles got off to a hot start, scoring 45 first half points and shooting 63% from the field in route to an 84-66 win over Siena Heights in the WHAC Tournament Semifinal game. CU had four different players score in double-figures led by a team high 19 from Christian Rodriguez. No. 10 Cornerstone will now take their 25-7 record into the WHAC Championship game against receiving votes Indiana Tech on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. right here inside Mol Arena. 

What you need to know

• Cornerstone got off to a fast start offensively scoring the first 10 points of the game including a pair of threes from Gabe Meriwether and Christian Rodriguez. 
• CU continued to dominate from the three-point line, as Carter Nyp would hit two while Jonny Strube hit one to help CU get on top 25-9 and force SHU into another timeout. 
• Siena Heights picked up the defensive pressure forcing CU into some careless turnovers to go on an 11-5 run and cut the deficit to 10. Head Coach Kim Elders would call timeout leading 30-20. 
• The Golden Eagles responded with a 9-0 run out of the timeout, continuing to drain three's with Christian Rodriguez, Jonny Strube, and Brent Hibbitts all hitting one from deep. 
• Cornerstone shot 63% in the first half on 17-27 from the field with a game high nine points coming from Jonny Strube off the bench. 
• Siena Heights began to chip away at the CU lead to start the second half cutting the deficit to as low as eight, but a Carter Nyp three and a Saints turnover would force them into a timeout trailing 53-42 with 15:30 to go in the game. 
• The CU offense slowed down in the second half, but the defense stayed strong as Siena did not cut the deficit back to single digits after the 15:30 mark. 
• The Golden Eagles put the game out of reach in the final five minutes to win by 18, 84-66. 

 

The reason @Assist_K1ng is named @Assist_K1ng - WHAT A FIND! pic.twitter.com/XhtbzUXY1D

— Cornerstone Basketball (@CornerstoneMBB) February 23, 2019

 
By the Numbers
20 – Head Coach Kim Elders is advancing to his 20^thWHAC Tournament Championship game in 26 years as head coach. 
51-29 – Cornerstone outrebounded Siena Heights 51-29 in the game including a game high 11 from senior Sam Vander Sluis. 
4 – Christian Rodriguez (19), Carter Nyp (15), Sam Vander Sluis (13), and Gabe Meriwether (12) would all score in double-figures in today's win. 
15/10 – CU would hit 15 threes' in the game, 10 of those coming in the first half. 
9 – Cornerstone followed up their 10-block game vs. UM-Dearborn with a nine-block game that saw three from Sam Vander Sluis and three from Brent Hibbitts. 

What's Next? 
Cornerstone will take on Indiana Tech in the WHAC Tournament Championship on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. inside Mol Arena.  
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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