GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  –  Christian Rodriguez scores 25 and Cory Ainsworth adds 17 as Cornerstone shoots over 50% for the fifth time this season in an 82-69 home win over Concordia. CU bounces back nicely in their first home game of 2022 as they improve to 14-8, 8-4 WHAC on the year. The Golden Eagles remain at home on Saturday as they take on Siena Heights at 3 p.m. for a WHAC contest. 

What you need to know? 

• After two early buckets from Trent Summerfield and Cory Ainsworth, Concordia took their first lead of the game on a Colton Ritsema layup to go up 7-6. 
• Cornerstone later went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Cory Ainsworth layup to go on top 15-10 in the low scoring affair. 
• Another 7-0 run that saw a Luke Rowlinson three sparked the CU offense as they went up by nine with 9:49 to play. 
• The two teams then played outstanding defense for the next three minutes with no points being scored from the 9:30 to 6:54 mark. 
• With 4:04 to play in the first half, Concordia was able to cut the deficit back to two with a Matt Lockhart three to make it 27-25. 
• Christian Rodriguez scored seven of the Golden Eagles last 11 points in the half as CU took a 38-31 lead into the half. 
• Cory Ainsworth earned a fast break dunk to cap a Golden Eagle 7-0 run to start the second half and force Concordia into a timeout, 45-31. 
• Christian Rodriguez was the benefactor of an outstanding Golden Eagle fast break, scoring a layup to make it 53-40. CU called timeout up 13 as the Cardinals continued to hang around. 
• Cornerstone pulled out to their largest lead of the game after a block and layup from Jack Joldersma, going up 17 with 11:01 to play. 
• After Luke Rowlinson hit a three to go up 18, Concordia again chipped away using a 10-1 run to cut it back to single digits with 5:05 to play. 
• Cornerstone called timeout, but the Cardinals continued to battle hitting a three and getting an and-one opportunity to bring it to six. 
• Threes from Christian Rodriguez and Carter Nyp in the final three minutes helped bring the lead back to double-digits at 76-66 and ice the game. 
• CU got the stops they needed on the defensive end to hold the double-digit advantage and earn the 82-69 victory. 

 
By the Numbers 
18 – Cornerstone's largest lead of the game was 18 points. 
7/8 – Carter Nyp led the team with eight boards to go along with seven points. 
11 – Luke Rowlinson scored 11 off the bench with nine of those points coming from behind the arc. 
15 – Cornerstone outrebounded Concordia 40 to 25 on the contest. 
5 – Christian Rodriguez had a team high five assists. 
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone continues a three-game home stretch vs. Siena Heights on Saturday, January 29 at 3 p.m.  
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Men's Basketball on: Twitter | Facebook