WARSAW, Ind. - The Kalamazoo College men's basketball team lost 94-82 to Cornerstone University in the opening round of the Grace College Tournament on Friday. Cornerstone, ranked third nationally in the latest NAIA Division II poll, improved to 14-1 on the season while the Hornets fell to 5-3.
Kalamazoo took the lead in the opening minutes of the game and battled
through the first half with each team shooting 60 percent from the field.
Cornerstone held a one-point lead (45-44) at the break.
Cornerstone's sharp-shooting continued in the second half as the Golden
Eagles hit 14-of-20 shots for a 70 percent clip and finished the game shooting
64.6 percent. Kalamazoo dipped slightly, shooting 55.2 percent in the second
half and finishing at 57.4 percent.
Cornerstone won the game at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-21 free
throws in the second half and finishing 25-of-29 for the game. Kalamazoo
had only two free throw attempts in the entire second half, converted both,
and finished 9-of-12 for the game.
Erik Rhinehart led five Kalamazoo players in double figures with 15 points.
Scott Montmorency scored 12 points with three rebounds. Jevon Caldwell-Gross
and Dirk Rhinhart each scored 11 points. Nathan Burns finished with 10
points.
Bryan Foltice led Cornerstone with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five
free throws. Mark Zichterman and Chris Telman each scored 16 points. Keith
Wurn added 13 points and Brad Gray finished with 10 points.
Cornerstone held a 24-21 rebounding advantage, but the Golden Eagles committed
three more turnovers (19-16) than the Hornets.
Kalamazoo will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
