The first crosstown rivalry game of the 2021 season saw a tie score with three minutes remaining for the Aquinas and Cornerstone men's basketball teams on Wednesday night (Feb. 3) in the Sturrus Center. AQ and the Golden Eagles were deadlocked at 63-all with 3:08 to play before CU used a 9-0 run to take control and finish off the 77-67 victory.
It was another great battle between the two Grand Rapids schools, as Aquinas led for the first 21 minutes of the game, including a slight 36-34 edge at halftime. Cornerstone outscored the Saints 43-31 over the final 20 minutes to move to 6-3 on the season and 3-1 in WHAC play. Aquinas drops to 0-5 overall and 0-4 in league action.
For the game, Cornerstone shot 45.8 percent from the field, while AQ made 42.4 percent of its shots. The Golden Eagles made more free throws (17-for-25) than Aquinas attempted (8-of-11). Both teams fired 23 three-pointers, with AQ holding a 9-6 edge in makes. CU won the rebounding battle, 41-31.
Four Saints reached double figures, led by Gabe Overway's near double-double of 15 points and nine rebounds. He was 7-of-15 from the field. Justin Lary posted 13 points and drained three triples to go with three assists. Sammie Ryans also hit a trio of three-pointers to tally 12 points and five rebounds.
Trevor Ballard was 4-for-5 from the floor and both of his triple tries for 10 points, along with four rebounds and three assists. Jesse Hillis was also on the verge of a double-double, recording nine points and a game-high nine assists.
AQ never trailed in the first half, building an 8-2 lead after consecutive three-pointers from Lary and Ballard. It was a 15-6 advantage after another Ballard triple and an Overway jumper, but Cornerstone tied the score at 17-all midway through the half.
The Saints pushed back out to a 34-26 cushion on a jumper from Tevin Ali and a Ryans trifecta. Again, Cornerstone responded and made it a 34-34 tie score with two minutes to go before halftime. Overway's layup with 1:11 to play gave Aquinas the slight 36-34 lead at the intermission.
CU's first lead came at the 18:20 mark on a Tyler Baker free throw for a 37-36 advantage. The Golden Eagles looked to take control after Baker hit a triple with 14:54 to go, putting Cornerstone in front 47-39. It was AQ's turn to respond and the Saints used a Ryans four-point play to eventually pull even at 51-51 with 9:45 remaining.
The Golden Eagles were in front 63-60 with 3:43 to play, but Hillis passed to Lary for game-tying triple with 3:08 remaining. From there, Cornerstone made a three-pointer, two layups, and a jumper in the next two minutes to take control, 72-63. The visitors would close out the game with free throws in the final minute.
Aquinas will hit the court next on Saturday (Feb. 6) at 3:00 p.m. against Madonna before traveling to UNOH on Sunday (Feb. 7) for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff.
