FORT WAYNE, Ind.  – Neither team eclipsed the 40% mark from the field tonight as Cornerstone and Indiana Tech duked it out in a defensive battle that ultimately resulted in a 71-65 loss for the Golden Eagles. Redshirt-senior Christian Rodriguez scored 28 points on the day to lead CU but it was not enough as the team drops to 13-8, 7-4 WHAC on the year, while the Warriors remain on top of the WHAC with a 10-2 conference record. Cornerstone will finally get the opportunity to return home after a bye on Saturday, as they host Concordia on Tuesday, January 25 for a 7:30 p.m. tip. 

What you need to know? 

• An early 7-0 run from the Warriors capped off by a Rog Stein three put the Golden Eagles in a quick 13-4 hole. 
• Cornerstone immediately responded with an 8-0 run to cut it back to just one with threes from Carter Nyp and Jack Joldersma. 
• It then was Indiana Tech's turn to respond scoring seven straight again to increase the lead back to eight at 20-12 with 7:54 to play. 
• Christian Rodriguez then went on a personal 7-0 run over the next two minutes to again cut the Golden Eagle deficit to one, 20-19. 
• The two teams finally started to trade points and limit each other's runs. Christian Rodriguez capped off his hot first half offensively with a three in the final 10 seconds. Cornerstone trailed 33-28 going into the locker room as Rodriguez led all scorers with 14. 
• Jonny Strube and Christian Rodriguez started the second half off with a bang, each hitting a three to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, 34-33. 
• That lead quickly evaporated as Grant Smith went on a 9-0 individual run to put the Warriors back on top 42-34. 
• As resilient teams do, Cornerstone responded with a 9-0 run later in the half that was capped off by a Luke Rowlinson three to tie the game at 46 with 11:50 to play. 
• An additional layup by Rowlinson made it an 11-0 run and gave Cornerstone their largest lead of the game, 48-46. 
• Again, Grant Smith powered IIT back with an 8-0 run to put his team back in front by six with 6:58 to play. 
• Indiana Tech continued to pour it on in the final seven minutes, as Steve Helm scored a bucket to give the Warriors their largest lead of the game at 63-51. 
• Warrior foul trouble and the standout performance from Christian Rodriguez helped Cornerstone cut it all the way back to four in the final three minutes, but it was too-little-too-late as Indiana Tech would hold on to win 71-65 in a defensive battle. 

 
By the Numbers 
22/10 – Cornerstone was held to a season low 22 made field goals tonight with 10 of those being three-point makes. 
8/9 – Carter Nyp led the team with nine boards to go along with a team second best eight points. 
40 – There was a combined 40 fouls in tonight's contest which averages out to one foul per minute of action. 
17 – Cornerstone was out-rebounded by 17 boards tonight as Tech recorded 47 to the Golden Eagles 30. 
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone returns home for the first time in 2022 as they host Concordia on Tuesday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m.  
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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