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Posted by Patrick Moore - Men's Basketball - Wed, Dec 16, 2009
Geoff Gaylor
Geoff Gaylor
Site: Defiance, Ohio (Community Center)
Score: Defiance College 90, Madonna University 79
Records: MU 2-10; DC 7-2
Next MU event: Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Hope (Holland, Mich.)

BOX SCORE

DEFIANCE, Ohio (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - After being down as many as 17 points, the Madonna University men's basketball team rallied to pull to with in seven late but could not hold off host Defiance College, falling 90-79 on Wednesday night (Dec. 16) inside the Community Center.

The Crusaders' 79 points set a season-high with junior Geoff Gaylor (Roscommon, Mich.) and freshman Kevin Henry (Toledo, Ohio) leading the way for both sides with 18 markers each. Senior Leroy Allen (Detroit, Mich.) and current WHAC Player of the Week junior Bryant Slaughter (Westland, Mich.) added 10 points each. Gaylor posted his second double-double (points/rebounds) with 12 boards to lead all players on the glass. Nick Sales led Defiance with 16 points.

Madonna fell behind early, trailing 25-8 just 12 minutes into the game. The Crusaders were able to trim their deficit back down to single-digits when Henry converted a lay up to make it 34-25 with just over a minute left in the first half. After DC's Mike Floyd put the Yellow Jackets back on 11 with a pair of free throws, Henry answer with a free throw of his own to make it 38-28 and then nailed a triple on the next possession to send the teams to the locker room with Madonna down just seven at 38-31.

Coming out of the break MU was able to pull back to with in six after a Slaughter three made it 40-34 but DC went on a 10-2 run over the next 2:12 and expand its lead back to a comfortable 14 points. 

The Defiance lead increased to 16 (68-52) with 9:42 to go before Madonna was able to put together a 14-5 run of its own to pull back to with in seven with 5:49 left. A lay up from sophomore Tyler Coker (Whitmore, Mich.) - who was making his season debut after undergoing foot surgery in the preseason - started the run and was followed by a lay in from Allen to go along with a jumper from both senior Jordan Hoke (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Gaylor and was capped buy a Henry jumper from a Slaughter pass to make it 73-66.

That would be as close as MU got the rest of the way as DC made a 14-7 run to go back on top by 15 and cruised to the 11-point win, 90-79.

With final exams wrapping up this week, the Crusader will break for the Christmas holiday and return to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 29, taking part in the Russ DeVette Tournament, hosted by Hope College. MU takes on the host Dutchmen at 8pm on Dec. 29.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834