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Posted by Patrick Moore - Men's Basketball - Sat, Jan 2, 2010
Kevin Henry
Kevin Henry
Site: Livonia, Mich. (Activities Center)
Score: Madonna University 73, Marygrove College 70
Records: MU 3-13; MC 4-12
Next MU event: Wednesday, Jan. 6 vs. Siena Heights (Activities Center)

BOX SCORE

LIVONIA, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - Sparked by a career-high 21 points from freshman Kevin Henry (Toledo, Ohio) and a double-double of 12 points and a career-high 10 steals from junior Bryant Slaughter (Westland, Mich.), the Madonna University men's basketball team held off a pesky Marygrove College squad for a 73-70 victory to snap the Crusaders four-game losing streak and open 2010 with a win on Saturday (Jan. 2) inside the Activities Center.

Henry's 21 markers led MU while senior Leroy Allen (Detroit, Mich.) added 10 points for the Crusaders. Eric Johnson led all players with 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Mustangs.

The Crusaders found themselves down seven at 9-2 just four minutes into the game but a lay up by Allen started a 9-1 MU run that put the home side on top 11-10 with 12:57 left in the opening half.

Both sides traded scores until a jumper from sophomore Mitch Cieslak (Brighton, Mich.) put MU up for good in the half, 18-17, with 11:06 to go. The Crusaders built their lead out to as many as eight on three separate occasions, the last coming via another Allen bucket to put the Crusaders in front 33-25 with 3:24 left.

The Mustangs went on an 8-2 run to close the half and were able to trim the Crusader lead to just two at 35-33 heading into the locker rooms.

Madonna was able to expand its lead out to seven over the first two-plus minutes of the second half thanks to a 7-2 run started by five straight points from Henry to open the half.

Marygrove went on a 7-0 run of its own to tie the game at 42-all before a Johnson score gave the Mustangs a brief 44-42 lead.

Junior Ryan Waidmann (Canton, Mich.) tied the game at 44-all and on the next trip hit a lay up after a Marygrove turnover led to a Madonna breakaway and a 46-44 lead for the home team with 12:43 left in the game.

After Marygrove cut the Madonna lead to just a single point (58-57) with an even seven minutes left in the game, Madonna was able to push its lead back out to six thanks to threes from sophomore Josh Gay (Woodburn, Ind.) and Henry to go up 64-58.

MU went up seven following a Slaughter lay in to go on top 71-64 with 3:27 left but then Marygrove was able to pull back to with in two (71-69) with 1:34 left after Keontay Glazier knocked down a three to make it a one possession game.

Following a Marygrove time out Marcus Hopkins drew a foul and missed the first of the two-shot trip to the line. Hopkins made the second shot to pull Marygrove back to with in one at 71-70.

Gay was fouled after the inbounds pass and sank both of his free throws before the Mustangs' last ditch three fell short giving the Crusaders their third win of the season 73-70.

Madonna looks to extend its winning streak on Wednesday when the Crusaders open up Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play by hosting Siena Heights in a 7:30pm tip inside the Activities Center. The Crusader Radio Network will carry the game live starting at 7:25pm.

NOTES
* Slaughter's 10 steals sets a new career high. His previous best was five, set last season against Cornerstone.
* Henry tied his career-high with his 21 points. He had previously scored 21 against Notre Dame on Dec. 11.
* The Crusaders now lead the all-time series with Marygrove 7-1.
* Madonna - the WHAC block leader - added three more to its total today with Allen, Henry and Slaughter each adding one apiece.
* The two sides combined for 54 turnovers and 44 fouls.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834