By: @n_jcamp
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Cornerstone returns to Mol Arena this week for their final home games of 2021 as they will take on Governor's State for the first time in program history, followed by a game vs. Rochester for WHAC play. Live links for each contest as well as a ticket link can be found HERE. Cornerstone University is also now requiring masks in all indoor public spaces across campus including athletic events, which means fans will be asked to wear a mask upon arrival. Wednesday, December 1 the game will tip at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 4 the game will tip at 3 p.m. or the conclusion of the women's contest.
Ainsworth earns Ray McCahill MVP
The Golden Eagles went 2-1 this week as they joined all four teams that competed in the GRSHOF Tournament with a 1-1 record as the team moved to 9-3 on the year and 4-1 in WHAC play. The highlight of the week came from Cory Ainsworth as he was named the Ray McCahill GRSHOF Tournament MVP after his first career double-double against hope with 13p/13r and a 19p/8r affair vs. Calvin. Carter Nyp was also named to the GRSHOF All-Tournament Team that took place at Hope College this past weekend.
300 Non-Conference W's
Head Coach Kim Elders in his 29th season continues to add to his Hall of Fame career as he earned his 300th non-conference victory vs. Calvin this past Saturday. Elders is 300-134 in non-conference games and 719-263 overall.
Point Milestones
Cornerstone has three players nearing point milestones, as Christian Rodriguez, Carter Nyp, and Cory Ainsworth are all close. Fifth-year senior Christian Rodriguez has 1780 career points as he looks to become just the seventh player in CU program history to reach the 2000-point threshold. The two Wayland products Carter Nyp and Cory Ainsworth are in a battle for who will become the 45th player to hit the 1000-point threshold, as Nyp has 797 career points and Ainsworth has 737 career points.
Scouting Governor's State
Governor's State is a relatively new program out of University Park, Illinois as they have never met Cornerstone since the program began in 2015-16. The Jaguars compete in the Chicagolands Collegiate Athletic Conference and have gone 4-7, 2-3 CCAC so far this year. Despite having seven losses, five of those have been by less than 10 points. GSU is a veteran team that has six seniors and one Grand Rapids native in junior Payton Harley from Wyoming High School. The GR native also leads the team in points at 10.7 per game to go along with a team high 6.1 assists per game.
Scouting Rochester
The defending WHAC Regular Season Champion Rochester Warriors have started the year 4-3, 2-2 WHAC which comes as a little bit of a surprise after returning nearly everyone from the 2020-21 season. RU has eight seniors, including the WHAC Newcomer of the Year Virgil Walker Jr. who transfered in from Graceland University for the 2020-21 season. The last time these two teams met, CU fell 94-89 in a game that decided the WHAC Regular Season Title after blowing a 19-point lead. Andre Johnson and Virgil Walker Jr. combined for 50 points to come back and beat CU in that game. Walker has been the teams leader offensively in the early 2021-22 year as well with 13.9 PPG and 3.1 APG. Diego Robinson has come off the bench to be a great surprise with 13.7 PPG and 9.3 RPG.
