Hammond, Ind. – Coming from six down with 10 minutes to play in the game, Judson University (12-6) kept their record perfect in the CCAC at 5-0 with an 82-71 win over Calumet College. JU had a 20-7 run over seven minutes to take a seven-point lead with 3:08 left to play and never let the lead go.
Dewayne Robinson was back to his scoring tricks leading all scorers with 28 points, putting 20 points up in the second half. Adding to the scoring were Steffan Williams (19), Ilija Bojanic (16), and Joe Gonnam (10). Bojanic had his third double-double of the year with 12 rebounds. Wilfredo Escobar had 19 for Calumet.
Heading into the second half, Judson was down four, 39-35, but a jumper by Bojanic cut the lead to two. Less than a minute later, Gonnam went 1-of-2 from the free throw line to bring CCSJ’s lead down to one, 39-38.
The Crimson Wave responded with a 9-1 run for a seven-point advantage, 47-40, with 15:51 left to play. Robinson widdled the lead back to three with two straight buckets in less than 20 seconds only to see CCSJ bring the lead back to five on the next possession, 49-44. Judson fired right back with a 7-2 run to tie the game for a fifth time at 51.
CCSJ answered with two-straight three-pointers to regain a six-point lead, 57-51. CCSJ missed their next six shots as JU took a four-point lead, 66-62. It was almost six minutes since the last time that CCSJ had made a shot. They went 5-of-7, though, from the free throw line.
A Crimson Wave bucket with 5:09 left brought JU’s lead down to two and also broke the dry streak of shooting from the floor. Robinson completed a three-point play 30 seconds later for a five-point lead but then both teams couldn’t hit a shot for then next 1:32.
Gonnam finally put JU up by seven, 71-64, with two free throws at the 3:08 mark but that lasted less than five seconds as CCSJ canned a three-pointer to come within four. This is as close as the Crimson Wave would come in the final three minutes of the game. JU out scored CCSJ, 11-6, in that span for the 11-point win.
In the final six minutes, JU went 20-of-23 from the free throw line, hitting 17 in a row. JU missed two free throws with 21 seconds left to break the streak.
There were four ties in the first half with JU having as large as a five-point lead, 19-14. CCSJ was up by as many as four, three different times and had a four-point lead at the half. CCSJ was hot from beyond the arc, making 5-of-9 shots for 55%.
Judson finished shooting 43% from the floor and 77% from the free throw line, making 22-of-28 in the second half. CCSJ made 35% of their shots from the floor and from three-point land. JU forced 14 turnovers and had 10 steals while only turning the ball over nine times. CCSJ out rebounded JU, 50-40.
The largest challenge of the season will take place on Saturday, January 26th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lindner Fitness Center as Judson hosts Trinity Christian for first place in the CCAC.
| Lewis University at | 2:00pm |
| Judson | CST |
| Scrimmage | |
