Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (DeVoss Field House)
Score: Hope College, Madonna University 68
Records: MU 2-11; HC 6-4
Next MU event: Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. Grace Bible College (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

BOX SCORE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (MadonnCrusaders.com) - - After falling behind by as many as 13 points in the second half the Madonna University men's basketball team rallied to trail by just one but could not get any closer, falling 72-68 to host Hope College on Tuesday (Dec. 29) during night one of the 2009 Russ DeVette Holiday Tournament inside the DeVoss Field House.

Junior Bryant Slaughter (Westland, Mich.) led all players with 21 points to go along with six rebounds and a pair of assists. Fellow junior Ryan Waidmann (Canton, Mich.) added 10 points and six rebounds while senior Leroy Allen (Detroit, Mich.) scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked four shots. Chris Nelis led Hope with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

A three from Slaughter gave MU a 9-5 lead with just under six minutes gone in the game but HC came back to take a 17-11 lead behind a 12-2 run and go in front by six with 9:59 to go in the opening half.

A triple from freshman Fred Williams (Oak Park, Mich.) tied the game at 17-17 with 7:37 left to help spark a 13-8 Madonna run that put the Crusaders on top 30-25 with just over two and a half minutes left. 

Hope was able to tie the game on a jumper from Scott Jungling as time expired in the half to send the two sides into the intermission deadlocked at 30.

Coming out of the break Hope built its lead out to as many was 13 over the first 12 minutes of the half to go on top 59-46. Madonna then went on yet another run, this time a 16-4 surge, keyed by 10 points from Slaughter and a three from senior Jordan Hoke (Grand Rapids, Mich.) to pull to with in one at 63-62 with 3:38 showing on the clock.

Nelis knocked down a jumper to put the Flying Dutchmen back up by three before another lay up pushed the home side's lead back up to five. A pair of charity tosses from Allen and one from Hoke got MU back to with in two (67-65) but the Crusaders could not get any closer, falling 72-68.

The loss puts Madonna in the consolation game Wednesday night against Grace Bible College. Tip-off is set for 6pm and live stats are available HERE. 

NOTES
* Ryan Waidmann made his return to the court after missing the last three games for personal reasons.
* Tyler Coker scored seven points in his second game of the season.
* Leroy Allen posted a season-high four blocks in the loss
* Head coach Noel Emenhiser still holds the single-game scoring record for the tournament with 38 points scored in a 2004 match up with Grace Bible.
* Emenhiser is second all-time in DeVette Tournament history with 66 points scored in the two games at the 2004 tournament.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834