Men's Basketball | 11/3/2022 11:07:00 AM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  The Golden Eagles continue the non-conference season at receiving votes Olivet Nazarene on Saturday at 3 p.m. CU takes their 1-1 record into their final non-conference game before beginning WHAC play at UM-Dearborn on Wednesday, November 9. For links for this week's action visit the links below. 
 
Opponent: (RV) Olivet Nazarene 
Location: Bourbonnais, Ill. (McHie Arena) 
Date: Saturday, November 3 
Time: 3 p.m. EST  
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Career High's for Cory 
Cory Ainsworth highlighted the Golden Eagles opening weekend at the WHAC/Crossroads League Classic with a 33 point and 13 rebound game in the win over Spring Arbor. 33 points sets a new career high for Ainsworth, while 13 points ties his career best. CU looked strong the opening weekend, losing by six to Indiana Wesleyan and winning by 16 against Spring Arbor to sit at 1-1. 
 
Rowlinson in the Starting Five
Sharp shooting sophomore Luke Rowlinson is now in the starting rotation and looked great in the opening two games with a career high 22 points against Indiana Wesleyan and 10 against Spring Arbor. He hit six three's and shot above 40% from deep in both contests. 
 
Hot Shooting
After losing their leading scorer from a season ago, Cornerstone did not struggle to find the bucket averaging 80 points per game in their first two. The team shot 50% from the field and 37.2% behind the arc while holding opponents below 40%. The only area CU struggled to find the bucket was at the free throw line, going 16-30. 
 
History vs. Olivet Nazarene
Cornerstone and Olivet Nazarene have only met eight times over a storied history, but the two sides have been very even splitting those eight contests at 4-4 overall. CU met ONU for the first time since 2005 a season ago in Grand Rapids and fell 87-71 behind the dominant performance of the eventual NAIA Player of the Year Alex Gross. The Golden Eagles last beat the Tigers in 2004, with a 93-82 home victory. 
 
Scouting Olivet Nazarene
Olivet Nazarene had one of their best years in program history a season ago, going 31-4 before falling in the NAIA Tournament Opening Round by three to Grace College. ONU is still set up for success but is missing a huge piece in the NAIA Player of the Year Alex Gross who scored 23.8 PPG as a center, shooting over 50% behind the arc, while averaging 14.1 RPG and 5.6 APG. Gross now is using his fifth year of eligibility to play at the NCAA DI level. He is at Morehead State University, the same school that former NBA player and now Grand Rapids Gold player Kenneth Faried played his college ball at. In 2022-23, ONU is 1-0 with an eight-point win vs. Wisconsin Lutheran. Head Coach Nick Birkey looks to continue last year's success with another tall and veteran roster with nine of the rostered players over 6-5.

Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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