Cedric Sims scored 10 of his 22 points during Madonna's 24-5 run to close the game in an 83-77 win over Siena Heights on Saturday.

LIVONIA, Mich. -- A 24-5 run over the last 6:55 of the game gave the Madonna men's basketball team an 83-77 come-from-behind win over visiting Siena Heights today inside the Activities Center. MU improved to 12-8 overall and 4-1 in WHAC play while SHU fell to 7-14 overall and 1-4 in loop action.

The first half was a tightly contested affair with neither side holding a lead of more than six. SHU led six with 8:08 left in the half, but the MU came back to tie the game at 29-all just over four minutes later on a Mike Rashad (Inkster, Mich.) lay-up.

The two sides traded the lead two more times in the half, but the Saints got the final score of the period, a short jumper from Chris Shiels to take a slim 39-37 lead into the intermission.

Coming out of the break Madonna tied it at 39-39 on a Keith Hearns (Livonia, Mich.) score and then again at 41-all with 18:28 showing on the game clock, but that would be the last time the game was tied as SHU went on a 24-13 run over the next nine minutes to build a 14 point cushion with just 8:50 left in the game. 

MU cut the lead to nine on a pair of D.J. Bridges (Canton, Mich.) free throws and a Cedric Sims (Canton, Mich.) triple, but SHU used a Brian Champine lay up and a triple from T.J. Witt to regain the 14 point lead, this time with 7:07 left.

That's when the Crusaders turned up the defensive pressure and in turn, swung the game and the momentum their way.

Bridges made a pair of charity tosses and was followed up with a three-ball from Charlie Henry (Canton, Mich.) to cut the deficit back down to single digits at 72-64. Sims then became a one-man wrecking crew, scoring the next seven MU points to bring the Royal and Gold to with in one at 72-71 with 3:41 remaining.

A Bridges lay-up off of a Champine miscue gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game since the first half at 73-72. SHU briefly regained the edge at 73-72 on a Curtis Stephens jumper, but that marked the final  time the Saints would lead in the game as Bridges canned a triple from the left side and current WHAC Player of the Week Jon Battle (Cleveland, Ohio) and Sims converted on their free throw attempts to seal the six point win away for the home side.

Sims scored 10 of his team high 22 points during the MU run to lead the Madonna attack. Bridges added 19 points of his own to go along with 11 from Hearns. Battle scored nine, but led all players with 12 rebounds. Champine, who had 20 at halftime for the Saints, ended the game with 27 points to lead all scorers

The Crusaders play their final non-conference game of the season on Monday, taking on Rochester College. That contest will be played at Rochester Adams HS and will tip-off at 7:30 pm.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834