LATE PUSH BY WARRIORS FALLS JUST SHORT AT #RV CORNERSTONE

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - It was a thrilling showdown in Mol Arena on Wednesday night, but the Warriors fell just short of defeating #RV Cornerstone 85-81. The Golden Eagles held slight advantages in shooting percentages during the game, with points inside giving them the edge over RCU in a WHAC slugfest. Forward Brett White led the Warriors with a big 31-point performance, going 6-10 from beyond the arc. For the Golden Eagles, forward Blake Stewart scored 26 on 11-13 shooting. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

The first half was all about Brett White, who scored 21 points in the game's opening 20 minutes. However, the forward began by distributing the rock, assisting on jumpers by Brody Parker and Gunner Walters to give the Warriors their first five points of the game. The Golden Eagles pushed ahead with a 9-0 run to go up 15-5, but White scored his first five points of the half on tough jumpers to cut into the lead. 

White only continued to go from there, scoring 13 consecutive points for the Warriors to help RCU emerge from a nine-point deficit to get back within a possession. From there, the Warriors continued to battle from down one, scoring on layups only to be answered by Cornerstone. The Warriors would be down 38-34 heading into the second half. 

SECOND HALF

The Warriors opened the second half on a three-point barrage, with Parker, Walters, and forward Dustin Farrow hitting threes to give the Warriors a 43-40 lead to begin the second half. The Golden Eagles' Tanner Wiergink helped give the hosts the lead back, scoring five unanswered. The Warriors hit another three shortly after, this time from guard George Reshotka, who secured a steal that set up a layup for James Fisher on the next possession. 

Forward Tymias Williams fed Fisher inside for another layup to give the Warriors a one-point lead, but two huge threes by Cornerstone gave the Golden Eagles a five-point lead. Reshotka responded with his second three of the game to keep RCU within two, and White hit another three shortly after a Golden Eagle layup to keep RCU within one. Williams stole a pass on the following possession, setting up Dustin Farrow for a layup to give the Warriors the lead at 60-59. 

Williams continued to make big plays for the Warriors, pulling down a rebound before dishing off to Stavros Polatoglou for a layup to put the Warriors up four with nine minutes remaining. The Golden Eagles got back ahead with a 5-0 run that was halted by free throws from Williams, who drew a foul after an offensive rebound. Cornerstone flipped the script shortly after, and went on a 7-0 run to head up 71-64 in front of a loud home crowd. 

White helped the Warriors get within one yet again, hitting a mid-range pullup to bring the score to 71-73. The Golden Eagles continued to fight back on offense, hitting a layup before forward Luke Rowlinson hit a three off an offensive rebound to put the Golden Eagles up 79-73. With 30 seconds remaining, White drew a foul on a three-pointer and hit all three free throws to give the Warriors a chance, but the Golden Eagles hit free throws when it mattered to keep the game out of reach for RCU.  

STAT OF THE GAME

White's 31 is the second 30+ performance of his career, last completing the feat during the 2023-24 season at Aquinas on Jan. 24. The forward had 32 in a 82-90 loss. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors host the Lourdes Gray Wolves on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Garth Pleasant Arena. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Dakota Shafer - RCU Athletics