RV ONU DOWN GOLDEN EAGLES TO CONCLUDE THE CORNERSTONE CLASSIC

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team concluded play at the Cornerstone Classic with a victory over tournament host Cornerstone University, 87-71, inside MOL Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

Tyler Schmidt kicked off the scoring for the Tigers as he drained a three-ball, 30 seconds, into the game.  However, the Golden Eagles marked 11 of the first 16 points to pull in front, 11-5.  After back-to-back layups by Schmidt, which tied the game at 11, Cornerstone kept its foot on the gas and went on a 10-3 run and led by seven points at 21-14.  The Tigers then saw great production from off the bench as Caleb Swearingen and Caleb Corro marked 9 of the next 11 points for the Tigers and took a 25-24 lead. 

Then, Landon Plfederer drained a pair of threes and extended the Tiger lead to 35-27. Alex Gross and Schmidt then made layups and extended the lead to 39-27. After a three by Cornerstone, the Tigers went onto tally the next eight points to force a Golden Eagle timeout.  The Tigers led 52-38 going into the half.  Schmidt led the Tigers with 17 points, while Gross followed with 12 points.  ONU shot 63.6% from the field in the first half. 

Halftime: RV Olivet Nazarene 52, Cornerstone 38

Schmidt, Gross, and Cade Chitty supplied the early offense out of the break for ONU as they led 58-43.  Neither team could get anything going offensively early in the second half as the two teams had a scoring drought of nearly three minutes until Plfederer made a layup making the score, 60-48.  At 62-50, Barik Olden scored five of the next seven points for ONU.  The Tigers were out in front, 69-50.

The Tigers saw four of its five starters score in double-figures as they took down the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University, 87-71. 

GAME VITALS

Final: RV Olivet Nazarene 87, Cornerstone 71

Records: RV Olivet Nazarene: 3-1 | Cornerstone: 4-1

Location: MOL Arena | Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids, Mich.

QUICK HITS

• Schmidt led the Tigers with 29 points. 
• Gross followed with his second straight double-double with 16 points and 16 boards. 
• Plfederer notched 12 points on 3-for-5 from behind the arc and added a team second-best five rebounds. 
• ONU held the 48-30 advantage with points in the paint. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers open CCAC play on Wednesday, November 10 visiting the Lynx of Lincoln College.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu