Judson 87, Madonna 83 -
BoxHOLLAND, MI. - Showing a strong defense in the final six minutes of the game, Judson University (9-7) held off Madonna University (4-10), 87-83, in the first game of the Hope College Tournament. Madonna was within two, 85-83, with 14 seconds left in the game but Judson made 2-of-4 from the free throw line for the victory.
"We played hard tonight but it was sloppy. We did not shoot the ball real well," comments head coach Tony Tompkins. "We needed to win this game because Madonna had won four games in a row and we are now 3-1 with our whole team. We came up here to win the tournament and to play Hope in front of their crowd."
LeStan Hoskins (Danville, IL) shelled out 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for a career-high and first double-double. Landon Skinner (Plano, TX) led all scorers with 27 points while Ben Rayhorn (Dakota, IL) had 16 points and Dewayne Robinson (Memphis, TN) added 10 points. Cedric Sims had 23 points for Madonna.
Judson had a six-point lead at the half, 40-34, and did not let it slip away in the second half. Madonna came within three, 65-62, with 8:52 remaining in the game. At that point, Judson went on a 9-0 run over two and half minutes to take a 12-point lead, 74-62. Madonna did not go away easily after Judson built the double-digit lead. With just 14 seconds left in the game, Madonna came within two points, 85-83. After Madonna fouled Judson's Nate McNeely (Monmouth, IL), McNeely converted one of two free throws for a three-point lead. On Madonna's next possession, they missed a three-pointer to tie the game and Judson's Skinner came down with the rebound and was fouled. Skinner then made one of his two free throws with four seconds left in the game to make it 87-83.
Judson shot 50% from the floor, overall, but only made 29% from beyond the arc and was 62% from the stripe. Madonna finished shooting 38% from the floor, 33% from three-point range, and 68% from the line. Madonna out rebounded Judson, 47-42, and forced 18 Judson turnovers.
Judson will take on the winner from the Davenport University-Hope College game on Saturday, December 30th, with the time to be determined.
