GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Cornerstone is set for a three-game week, highlighted by the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame (GRSHOF) Tournament, hosted by Hope College this year on November 26-27. Prior to the tournament, the Golden Eagles will travel to Ann Arbor for a Tuesday matchup with Concordia for their fifth conference game of the year. The number 25 team in the country looks to stay on top of the WHAC standings as they sit at 7-2, 3-1 WHAC so far this season. For tickets to the GRSHOF Classic and links for all live video and stat action, please visit HERE.
Last Week's First Road Trip
Cornerstone hit the road for the first time this last week and split the two games with a loss at Lawrence Tech and a big rebound win at Siena Heights. The highlight from last week came with Christian Rodriguez breaking the program assist record in the game at Lawrence Tech as he now has 581 to pass Scott O'Day for the all-time record. Rodriguez recorded his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 assists at Lawrence Tech as well. Cornerstone is now 7-2, 3-1 WHAC on the year.
About the GRSHOF Tournament
The Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame (GRSHOF) Classic is an annual Thanksgiving basketball event that brings Aquinas and Cornerstone from the NAIA and Calvin and Hope from the NCAA DIII to a classic style tournament. The event used to be hosted downtown at Van Andel Arena, but is now hosted at each school every four years. This year's tournament will be hosted by Hope College, as Cornerstone will take on the host on Friday at 8 p.m. and then Calvin on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Look at the WHAC
We are just four games into the conference season and every WHAC team has seen at least one loss in league play already. As it stands going into Thanksgiving, Cornerstone, Aquinas, and Lawrence Tech are all tied at 3-1 in league play. Madonna and Indiana Tech each have one loss as well, but they have only played three WHAC games.
Scouting Concordia
Concordia broke the Golden Eagles hearts last season with an upset win in the WHAC Tournament Quarterfinal last time the two teams met, ending CU's hopes at qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament. This season, ninth-year Head Coach Ricky Yahn and the Cardinals have posted a 4-4, 1-2 WHAC record with a conference win vs. Siena Heights. Concordia does a great job not turning the ball over, averaging just 11.3 a game to rank 38th in the NAIA. The senior combo of Thomas Hronis and Colton Ritsema lead CUAA offensively, averaging double-figures in points per game.
Scouting Hope
Hope as gone 2-1 to begin the year as Cornerstone will be their first home game of the year. Hope is a veteran team as Evan Thomas leads the team with 15.3 PPG and Clayton Dykhouse follows at13.7 PPG. Thomas nearly averages a double-double as he leads the team with 9.3 RPG this season as well.
Scouting Calvin
Cornerstone has fallen to Calvin the last two times the teams have met in the GRSHOF Tournament. Calvin is 2-1 on the year as they most recently fell to Illinois Wesleyan. The Knights have been productive offensively, shooting 48.7% from the field, led by graduate student Luke Morrison and his 23.5 PPG. Calvin has four graduate students on their roster to go along with three seniors for an incredibly veteran roster in 2021-22.
