ELGIN, IL - Down by as many as 15 points, Judson University (9-9/0-1) came back to tie the game at 52 with 10:40 to go in the game but Cardinal Stritch's (9-5/1-0) defense was the difference in the end as the Wolves claimed the CCAC opener, 82-78. Cardinal Stritch was receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II poll.

Judson was led by freshman Landon Skinner's 23 points while Ben Rayhorn collected 13 points, Dewayne Robinson had 12 and Dovydas Retkus added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Trey Triplett had 19 points for Cardinal Stritch.

A poor first half put Judson in the hole early as Cardinal Stritch took a 15-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the game, 26-11. Judson had one lead in the first half, 3-2, when Retkus found the net at the 17:31 mark. In the next eight minutes, Cardinal Stritch had a 24-8 run to make it 26-11. Judson finally put Cardinal Stritch's lead to single digits with 1:07 left in the half, 38-29 on two free throws from Rayhorn.

Judson's offense came together in the first five minutes of the second half as they outscored Cardinal Stritch, 12-5, to cut the lead to two, 43-41. By the 12:54 mark, Judson retook the lead, 46-45, on a three-pointer by Skinner. The lead lasted less than 30 seconds as Cardinal Stritch went up by one on their next possession. Skinner tied the game at 50 with 11:14 left in the game only to see Cardinal Stritch go on an 11-3 run over the next two minutes for an eight-point lead, 61-53. By the 5:16 mark, Cardinal Stritch rebuilt their lead back to double digits (11), 72-61. Judson battled to the end as they cut the lead to two, 80-78, on a 17-8 run in five minutes. Rayhorn hit two free throws with 25 seconds left in the game to put Judson within two.

Cardinal Stritch ran the clock down until Judson finally fouled Triplett with 14 seconds left in the game. Triplett converted both free throws to make it 82-78. Rayhorn missed a three-pointer with six seconds left but Cardinal Stritch threw the ball out of bounds with three seconds left. Judson's last second shot from three-point range fell short as the game ended.

It was a rough game as Judson committed 29 fouls and Cardinal Stritch had 23. The two teams combined to shoot 62 free throws. Judson came away shooting 42% from the floor, 25% from beyond the arc, and 69% from the line. Cardinal Stritch had similar numbers going 48% from the floor, 12% from three-point range, and 72% from the stripe. Both teams committed 22 turnovers and Judson had 36 rebounds to Cardinal Stritch's 33.

Judson will now go on the road in the CCAC to face Purdue-North Central at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10^th, in Indiana.