Box Score SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University (7-5, 2-4) took down Goshen (Ind.) College (4-11, 0-3) inside the Don Ridler Field House on Friday night by a score of 76-74. It was a tale of two halves for the Blue Devils as they scored 18 more points in the second half than they did in the first. This strong second half was the difference maker and lifted the Blue Devils to their seventh win of the season.
Defense was all the fans saw for the first four minutes, as both teams made it noticeable that every point was going to be earned. Goshen got on the board first with 16:12 on the clock, but Brandon Beavers answered right back for the Blue Devils to make the score 2-2. The Maple Leafs would go on a 10-4 run over the next four minutes, ending the run was Carter Frantz, who knocked down his first triple of the evening. With the score 12-9 and 11:41 left in the first half, the Blue Devils offense stalled out and the Maple leafs went on a 16-3 run for the next five minutes. A Dewayn Allen layup following an Alek Ivanovic offensive rebound ended the run and put the Blue Devils down 14 points with just under six minutes to play. That was their largest deficit of the game, and they clawed their way out of that deficit rather quickly with a seven point run of their own. The two teams would trade buckets in the remaining time, and the Blue Devils went into halftime down by six, 29-35.
After surrendering the first bucket to the Maple Leafs, the Blue Devils went back to back possession with three point baskets from Ivanovic and Jordan Henry, putting the Blue Devils down by just two points. Frantz was able to get the game back even at 45-45 when he drove to the basket and laid one in with 14:32 left in the second half. The two teams would trade leads for the remainder of the game with neither team able to gain a lead greater than four points. Fast forwarding to the final minute of the game, the score was 74-74 when Allen pulled down his seventh rebound of the night and went back up to get fouled and went to the free throw line. Allen knocked down both of his free throws to put the Blue Devils ahead 76-74 with just 10 seconds on the clock. Goshen was able to get one more shot off, but was unsuccessful to extend the game.
Allen earned himself player of the game not only because of his numbers in the stat sheet, 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, but it was his hustle plays in big situations that sparked the Blue Devil second half. Allen set career highs in both points and rebounds vs. the Maple Leafs. Along with Allen, Henry continued his scoring ways leading all Blue Devils with 19 points. This marked the sixth time Henry has scored 15 or more points this season.
The Blue Devils will be off until after Christmas; they will be back in action on Saturday, December 28th as they travel to Mishawaka, Ind. to take on Bethel University. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30pm EST.
