GOSHEN, Ind. - Men's basketball picked up their first win of the season over the Judson Eagles 94-70 — this is the Maple Leafs biggest margin of victory since 2021.
Goshen came out strong, starting the game off with an early 8-0 lead from threes by Levi Sawatzky and Marcus Northern, as well as a pair of free throws from Braden Allen.
Things evened back out some as the half went on, but around the nine minute mark, the Leafs really kicked it into high gear. For the next six minutes, they would outscore the Eagles 21-2, including eight possessions in a row where Judson could not get a bucket.
45-32 was the score at half time, with the Leafs sitting on a comfortable 13-point lead as they headed into the break. The second half saw the Leafs continue to extend their lead, over the course of the next 20 minutes finding runs of 7-0, 9-0, and 8-0, before taking the victory by 24 points.
Northern led the Leafs in points, picking up 22 on the night, which ties for fourth most he has ever achieved in a match. His six threes also ties a career high, and after tonight he now sits at #28 on the all time scorers list for GC.
Kevin Cota nabbed a career high in assist with four, and made this the first time in his career that he has had two games back to back with 15+ points, as he scored 15 tonight.
Braden Allen earned a career high in field goals when he scored five in this matchup, and tied his career high assists with six. Caleb Thompson tied his career high shots from the floor with four, and earned a career high three rebounds.
Vassilis Petrides was all over his personal records, earning career highs in assists with five and in steals with three. He also had the first multi-rebound game of his career. Sawatzky also improved on his career high from last week with 13, earning many of them in quick succession.
The team as a whole also demonstrated a lot of depth, as Goshen had five players with 4+ assists, and six with 4+ field goals. Their 13 total threes tied the team's best efforts against NAIA opponents in the last five seasons, and 11 assists over the opponent is the best margin over an NAIA opponent in the last 12 years.
The Maple Leafs are back in action Saturday, Oct. 31 for their first road match against the University of Northwestern Ohio. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
