GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Golden Eagles will continue an early season home stand with a non-conference contest with a tough Bethel Pilots team this Saturday, November 14 at 3 p.m. Cornerstone is coming off back-to-back victories to sit at 2-1 on the year as they took down Saint Xavier in the home opener and accomplished two major milestones inside Mol Arena. For live coverage of the game visit cugoldeneagles.com/watch. To know more about the COVID-19 spectator policy for Saturday's contest visit - https://cugoldeneagles.com/documents/2020/10/21//ALL_Spectator_Guidelines.pdf?id=1038. Two guests will be allowed per athlete with Cornerstone faculty, staff, and students welcome to attend as well.
Week of Milestones
The Golden Eagles won their second game of the season in their lone game of the Cornerstone Classic, 91-83 over Saint Xavier. The game saw two major milestones accomplished, including Head Coach Kim Elders earning career win number 700 and redshirt-senior Tyler Baker becoming the 44th Golden Eagle to crack 1,000 career points. In the win, Cornerstone saw four players in double-figures as they were led by sophomore Cory Ainsworth with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Schedule Changes
With the implications of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Cornerstone has seen multiple schedule changes. CU's second game of the Cornerstone Classic vs. IU-East was canceled last weekend. CU also has moved their WHAC regular season opener vs. Rochester to December 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Home Opener Success
Head Coach Kim Elders and the Golden Eagles continue to be dominant in home openers as the 28 year veteran head coach is now 23-5 in their opening game in Grand Rapids. Cornerstone has won four home openers in a row with their last loss coming to Spring Arbor in the 2016 WHAC/CL Classic.
The Assist King
Senior Christian Rodriguez has been dishing out assists in the early season with 19 through his first three games averaging 6.3 a game. Rodriguez has 434 career assists and is averaging 1.3 more than his previous best in 2018-19.
Balance Offensively
Through the first three games, the Golden Eagles have not had one offensive standout, but instead seen balance across the board with eight players averaging 7.7 points per game or higher. The bench has been producing nicely, scoring 73 of the teams 253 total points through the first three games. Junior Drew Knickerbocker has been the best offensive producer off the bench so far averaging 10.3 points per game. Knickerbocker averaged 4.4. PPG last year and 2.3 PPG as a freshman.
History vs. Bethel
Cornerstone and Bethel will meet in their first regular season contest in 20 years as the two teams last met November 4, 2000. According to Cornerstone's record books, CU is 9-34 all-time against the Pilots with most of those games coming before Coach Kim Elders was at the helm. In the last six games however, Cornerstone has won five of them including a 102-85 win in that game on November 4, 2000.
Scouting the Pilots
The Pilots are 2-0 in the early season and have not played since October 31 with their last three contests being canceled due to COVID-19. Bethel was 22-11 last season, but 8-10 in Crossroads League play to finish sixth in one of the most dominant conferences in the NAIA. Bethel is led by the incredible senior guard duo of TreVion Crews and Zac Owens who are both averaging above 23 points per game. The duo is atop the team in points, assists, steals, and free throw percentage this season.
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