Cedric Sims (pictured) had 14 points and was one of five Crusaders in double figures on Wednesday.

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Madonna University men's basketball team overcame and early five-point deficit to take down 13th-ranked Aquinas Wednesday night 74-52 inside the Activities Center. Jon Battle led MU with 20 points to go along with nine rebounds.

Madonna (9-8; 1-1 WHAC) found itself down 5-0 early on, but used a three-point play from Battle to take the lead for good with 16:07 left in the first half. The Crusaders led by as many as 11 in the opening 20 minutes as Charlie Henry converted an and-one to extend the MU lead to 26-15.

AQ - the pre-season favorite to win the WHAC - cut the MU lead to seven heading into halftime as Pedja Lazic made a pair of free throws with 51 ticks left for the Saints.

Coming out of the intermission, Aquinas cut the Madonna lead to six on a triple from James Telman, but the Saints could get no closer as Battle and Henry built the MU lead back out to as many as 24, using the three-ball - including one as the shot clock expired to seal the deal for the Crusaders.

Henry and Cedric Sims had 14 each for Madonna and were joined in double figures by D.J. Bridges and Keith Hearns,  who had 11 markers each. Telman posted 14 to lead the Saints.

The Crusaders start a two-game road swing on Saturday as they face off with UM-Dearborn in a 3:00 pm tip-off following the MU/UMD women's game that starts at 1:00 pm