SPRING ARBOR, Mich.--Senior Alejandro Gonzalez nailed a go-ahead three-point field goal with 1 minute and 34 seconds remaining, and classmate Brandon Beavers hit two crucial free throws with a second left, to lift visiting Lawrence Tech to an 89-85 victory Tuesday night over Spring Arbor in non-conference men's basketball action at the McDonald Athletic Center. The Blue Devils improve to 3-3 on the season while the Cougars fall to 5-2 overall.

LTU Highlights

• Beavers led the team with 28 points on 10-for-17 from the field, including 5-for-9 from three-point land, and game highs of seven rebounds and eight assists.
• Senior Nathaniel Ward added 16 points (7-10 FGs), three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Junior Cameron McEvans scored a LTU career-high 16 points (6-10 FG, 3-6 3FG) off the bench.
• Gonzalez finished with 12 points and three rebounds.
• Junior Blake Lund (5 points) led all student-athletes with three steals.

SAU Highlights

• Gabe Newhof led all scorers with 31 points on 14-for-21 field goal shooting and he tied teammate Kevyn Robertson with a game-high-tying seven rebounds.
• Travis Grayson added 27 points (8-13 FGs, 3-6 3FGs, 8-11 FTs) and three assists, while Robertson chipped in 11 points.

How it Happened

• The game was tied at halftime, 42-42, as both teams shot well from the field. Lawrence Tech made 15-of-30 field goal attempts for 50.0 percent (11-for-18 3FGs, 61.1%) while Spring Arbor went 16-for-27 for 59.3 percent (4-8 3FGs, 50.0%).
• That trend would continue for the entire game as the Blue Devils shot 54.1 percent from the field (33-61) and 54.8 percent beyond the arc (17-31), while the Cougars were 64.0 percent (32-50 FGs) and 53.3 percent (8-15 3FGs).
• Gonzalez's trey put LTU ahead to stay 85-82 and Beavers iced the win with a pair of free throws after he was fouled on a defensive rebound when SAU had an opportunity to tie the score but missed a free throw.
• Lawrence Tech showed its depth by outscoring the SAU bench, 21-8. The Blue Devils also outscored the Cougars on turnovers, 13-2.
• The Cougars attacked the basket, too, outscoring the Blue Devils in the paint, 48-30.
• Both teams had six point leads in the first half and the game remained close in the final 20 minutes as well.
• The contest featured 11 ties and 23 lead changes, with the biggest advantage being eight points for LTU at 74-66 with 8:53 left in second half.
• Newhof gave SAU its last lead on a layup, 80-79, with 2:53 left.

Beyond the Boxscore

• The Blue Devils are 2-3 all-time against the Cougars (since 2012), but are 2-1 in Spring Arbor.
• The last three meetings have been decided by three possessions or less.
• Tonight's five turnovers by LTU are a season low.
• Lawrence Tech ranks first in the conference with 13 three-pointers made per game and sixth in the NAIA.

Lawrence Tech is in action again this Saturday (3 p.m.) against first-year program Cleary University at home for a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference contest at Don Ridler Field House.