SHU Men's Hoops Fall Short Against #20 Indiana Tech

ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights men's basketball team nearly overcame a 16-point deficit, eventually falling to No. 20 Indiana Tech, 69-61, in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play at the SHU Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Cecil Clark (Ferndale, Mich./Ferndale) and Chris Lemm (Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley) scored 15 points apiece for the Saints (5-14, 2-6). Clark also had five assists while Nick Packwood (Southgate, Mich./Inter-City Baptist) scored 13 points and Vince Schantz (Wyandotte, Mich./Allen Park Cabrini) grabbed eight rebounds.

The Saints trailed 44-28 with 18:41 remaining before pushing back with a 25-9 stretch -- led by 10 points from Clark. The stretch culminated with 12 consecutive points, finishing with a 3 from Clark to tie the contest at 53-all with 4:19 to go.

Rodney Bartholomew, who finished with 27 points and 13 points for the Warriors (15-3, 5-3), answered back with a basket. Packwood then forged the game's final tie at 55-55 with 3:00 on the clock.

Jordan Hickman gave Indiana Tech the lead once again, 57-55, putting the visitors up for good. The Warriors went 8 of 10 from the free-throw line during the final minutes.

Jeff Hoskins and Hickman were also double-figure scorers for the Warriors. Hoskins had 13 points and Hickman put in 10.

The Saints will be in action again on Monday when they visit non-conference Marygrove for a 3 p.m. tip-off.