GOSHEN, Ind. –
Elias Ramirez contributed 30 points for Goshen on Saturday afternoon, but Mount Vernon Nazarene pulled away late, winning 84-76.
The visitors held an early 8-0 lead and led by as many as ten in the first half. The Maple Leafs answered and held a four-point lead until MVNU hit a late three at the end of the half. At the break, Goshen led the offensive affair, 42-41.
Goshen held its advantage in the first five minutes of the second half, but a three by Clay Hilliard with 13:17 to go gave the Cougars a 57-54 lead that they would hang on to for the rest of the game. The Maple Leafs showed toughness after cutting the lead to three multiple times after MVNU had built up a ten-point lead. However, the Cougars went on to win and move their record to 19-8 and 10-6 in the Crossroads League.
"I'm proud of our effort today," said head coach
Jon Tropf. "We played together and were in a position to win late. This was a step in the right direction."
Elias Ramirez scored 30 points – knocking down eight of his 11 three-point attempts. He was 4-4 from the line, added three rebounds, and a steal. The 30 points and eight made three-pointers are season-highs for the redshirt freshman.
Gabriel McQuay had 17 points off the bench. He has scored in double-digits in five of his last six games.
Ryan Mansbarger and
Michael Johnson each scored 11. Johnson had eight rebounds before fouling out and was a perfect 9-9 at the free-throw line. As a team, Goshen was 16-17 from the charity stripe, or 94.1%.
"We still need to be better on the glass, fighting for every rebound," Tropf shared. "We need to value every possession in every situation."
Mount Vernon Nazarene has won five straight games and is now 9-4 on the road. They had 23 assists in the game – tied for the most assists that Goshen has allowed this season.
The Maple Leafs are on the road Tuesday, February 15, at Huntington. They take on the Foresters at 7:00 pm. The last home game of the regular season will be on Saturday, February 19, at 3:00 pm. Goshen will battle Bethel on Senior Day and as part of the U.S. Highway 20 Cup. The women play at 1:00 pm.
