GOSHEN, Ind. – The Comfort Inn Halloween Classic got underway Friday evening in Goshen with a win for Aquinas College over the Maple Leafs, 85-70.
Aquinas controlled the end of the first half, going on a 27-9 run over eight and a half minutes. Besides that stretch, Goshen outscored the Saints for the rest of the game, 61-58. The offense for the Saints was rolling in the second half, as they put up 53 points. The Maple Leafs' defense came back from halftime better equipped however and held Aquinas to just 32 points while scoring 32 of their own.
The Saints (2-0) shot 61% from the field in the first half but were held to 37% in the second. Their three-point percentage dropped from 55% to 25%. They couldn't be stopped from the line in either half – shooting a perfect 22 for 22.
Goshen (1-1) had 13 second-chance points thanks to ten offensive rebounds. Aquinas had just four second-chance points on five offensive rebounds.
Michael Johnson led all players on the court with 23 points. He was 8-16 from the field and 6-7 on free throws.
Elias Ramirez had 11 points and four rebounds.
Robert Sanders and
Clayton MacLagan each had eight points.
Greg Johnson had seven boards, and
Ryan Mansbarger had two steals and five rebounds.
Aquinas played another Crossroads League opponent, Taylor, on Tuesday and won 66-63. They will also play #2 Saint Francis (Ind.) tomorrow at 3:00 during the second day of the Comfort Inn Halloween Classic.
Goshen will play Graceland (Iowa) for their second and final game in the four-team tournament. The game will be at 1:00, Saturday, October 30
th in the Ruth Gunden Gymnasium.