SHU Men's Hoops Drops Nail-Biter to #23 Madonna

12/10/2011 9:28:51 PM
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ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights men's basketball team dropped a nail-biter to No. 23 Madonna, 68-65, in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play on Saturday at the SHU Fieldhouse.

The visiting Crusaders (8-4, 4-0) ended the game of runs with the contest's final five points. Travis Schuba hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left, putting Madonna up 66-65, and added pair of free throws with one second remaining.

The Saints (4-8, 1-3) trailed by as many as nine points in the second half before enjoying a 16-5 stretch. Paul Elliott scored seven points during the run as SHU snagged a 51-49 lead with 7:28 left.

Siena Heights built its largest second-half lead at 59-55 with five straight points when Nick Kosovich (Shelby Township, Mich./Romeo) hit a trey and Cecil Clark (Ferndale, Mich./Ferndale) made a shot.

The Crusaders battled back with an 8-0 streak of their own. Bobby Naubert led the run with six points, which left Madonna with a 63-59 advantage.

SHU then took its final lead with six consecutive ducats. Chris Lemm (Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley) made a pair of free throws and Vince Schantz (Wyandotte, Mich./Allen Park Cabrini) tied the game with a basket before Lemm's layup gave the Saints their final lead at 65-63.

During the first half, the Saints held Madonna without a field goal for 7:21 and went on a 6-1 run to take their largest lead at 19-14. The Crusaders took a 30-27 advantage into halftime.

Clark and Lemm were SHU's top scorers, finishing with 13 points apiece. Schantz added 12 points and nine rebounds while Kosovich put in 11 points. Elliott added four steals for the Saints, who shot 48.3 percent (14 of 29) in the second half.

Madonna was led by Schuba and Naubert, who scored 19 points apiece. Schuba also had eight rebounds and Naubert dished five assists.

SHU's next three contests will take place at the Saint Xavier (Ill.) Tournament. It is set to take on Mount Marty (S.D.) on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. and then host Saint Xavier on Dec. 21 at 6.