Grand Rapids Rough for LCU Men's Basketball

[November 10, 2014]  LINCOLN - Grand Rapids, MI - The Lincoln Christian University (LCU) men's basketball team traveled to Michigan this weekend to play in the John F. Bailey Memorial Charity Tournament at Grace Bible College. LCU faced the host Grace Bible Tigers on Friday and Crossroads College on Saturday. Both opponents proved too much for the young Red Lions squad as they lost both games.

Friday's game against Grace Bible began ominously as the Tigers went on a 9-0 run at the start. As the Red Lions tried to chase the game they fell further and further behind. Down by 15 at the half, 43-28, the gap widened as the game went on. LCU fell 94-62 as they struggled to make baskets. They threw up 55 shots, but made only on 20 for a .363 FG percentage. Grace Bible, however, hit twice as many buckets on 74 attempts. Two LCU veterans led the scoring and rebounds, Anthony Rush (JR/Peoria, IL) had 14 points and Jimmy Smylie (SO/Springfield, IL) pulled down 5 boards, all on the defensive end of the court. With the loss, LCU was relegated to a consolation game on Saturday against Crossroads.

As the Red Lions went up against the Crossroads Knights, it looked like it was going to be a repeat performance as LCU sank only 10 of 27 shots in the first half and scored only 24 points to Crossroads' 43. Then the story changed for the Red Lions as they came out of the locker room the way Coach Mac Ingmire has been expecting all year. Scoring 53 points in the second half on a .500 FG percentage, LCU outscored Crossroads for the closing 20 minutes, but couldn't close the gap entirely as they fell 90-77. This was Crossroads' first win of the season and LCU's third loss. Two freshmen led LCU in scoring for the day, Cody Mileur (FR/Chester, IL ) with 15 points and Michael Patterson (FR/Houston, TX) with 14. Josiah Gordon (SO/Springfield, IL) pulled down 7 rebounds to better Patterson's 6.

LCU returns to the court Thursday night at Gaston Arena in Lincoln, IL for a 7 p.m. contest against Benedictine University at Springfield.

LCU’s School of Undergraduate Studies is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Founded in Lincoln, Illinois, in 1944, Lincoln Christian University’s three schools – the School of Undergraduate Studies, the Hargrove School of Adult & Graduate Studies and the Seminary – share a mission to nurture and equip Christians with a Biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world. For more information about the Red Lions visit LincolnChristian.edu/athletics.

[Todd Spellman, Lincoln Christian University]