GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen overcame a seven-point second-half deficit as they went on to win 78-72 against Cleary on Saturday afternoon. Led by 21 points from Marcus Northern and 17 from Kenny May, the Maple Leafs improve to 2-2 this season with the win.

The Cougars only had a lead for 22 seconds of the first half. Otherwise, it was the Maple Leafs who had the edge, which grew to a nine-point advantage at one point. Goshen was up 42-39 at the half, but with 17:44 to go in the second half, Cleary tied the game for the first time since the 14:55 mark in the first half. The Cougars started the half on an 18-8 run, and Goshen head coach Dwight Gingerich used a timeout when his team was down seven.

The Leafs made a series of substitutions, and in just under three minutes, the game was tied again. GC took the lead for good with just over six minutes remaining, growing it to nine points until ending with a five-point win.

The win marks back-to-back seasons that the Leafs have beaten the Cougars. After posting just seven assists in their loss at Defiance on Wednesday, the Leafs responded with 19 assists today. Marcus Northern had 21 points, eight rebounds, a career-high five steals, a block and two assists. He is tied for 22nd in the NAIA with an average of 3.0 steals per game this year, and tied for first in the Crossroads League with Peyton Heiss (Mount Vernon Nazarene). Kenny May had 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He made eight of his 12 field goal attempts. A year ago, he had 14 points all season, averaging 1.4 per game.

Braden Allen had seven points and a career-high eight rebounds in addition to four assists, two steals and a block. Tyrelle Hunt scored nine points off the bench. Kamren Williams led the team with six assists, a season high. The Goshen defense held Cleary to shooting 15.4% from behind the three-point line. That is the lowest a GC opponent has shot from three since IU-East on November 11, 2023.

In attendance at the game were members of the 2001-2002 Goshen men's basketball team. Jeremy High ('04) was diagnosed with ALS, leaving him unable to walk and needing to adjust to life with significant mobility challenges, in an apartment not equipped for wheelchair access. High is the fifth-leading scorer in program history, having racked up 1,560 points in his career. He is seventh in rebounds, eighth in free throw attempts, tenth in three-point attempts, fifth in field goals and fifth in field goal attempts. Goshen College joined so many others in asking for donations for him through his GoFundMe page. The Maple Leaf community has raised over $750 from this game alone.

Goshen (2-2) is at IU-Columbus on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 pm.