Crusaders Advance to 3-0 with Road Win Over Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Elizabeth City, NC- Christendom travelled down to North Carolina over the weekend to take on the Mustangs of Mid-Atlantic Christian University, where they picked up a 66-64 win in dramatic fashion. This win marks the first time the Crusaders have picked up a win on the road against their long-time rival in 10 years. The last time the Crusaders defeated the Mustangs on the road was on February 5, 2011, when they won by a very similar score, 67-65. 

The first half was a defensive battle for both sides. Each team was figuring out the other, and the offensive production was quite limited throughout the half. The high-octane pace of play of MACU powered by playing at their home court allowed the Mustangs to have a slight advantage in the beginning, which they carried to a 31-26 score heading into the break. 

In the second half, the Crusaders were able to figure out how to break down MACU's high-pressure defense. After being down by as many as nine points in the half, a series of huge plays from nearly every player on the floor propelled the Crusaders to make their run. Christendom took the lead with 6:30 left in the game on a tough layup from John Paul Vander Woude (Sophomore/ Nokesville, VA), and they would not relinquish it for the rest of the game. This was not without resistance from the Mustangs, however. A late surge from the Mustangs in the last minute and a half kept the them in the game, and cut the Crusader lead to just two points. In the final seconds, the Mustangs had a chance to either tie or win the game, but the Crusader defense stepped up and made a big stop, allowing them to secure the 66-64 victory. 

The scoring for the Crusaders was very balanced. Aside from Vander Woude leading the charge with 19 points, the rest of the major scorers were in close range of each other. Andrew Heisler (Sophomore/ Front Royal, VA) had 11 points, and Joe Dotson (Junior/ Manassas, VA) and Peter Ethridge (Sophomore/ Phoenix, AZ) each had 9 points and 2 steals. Owen Kennedy (Senior/ Mt. Vision, NY) and Jack Hofbauer (Senior/ Woodcliff Lake, NJ) had 8 points a piece. Kennedy also had 14 rebounds, and Hofbauer chipped in with 7 boards of his own. 

The Crusaders take on Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in their last game before Christmas break on this Tuesday, December 7. It is a Christmas Out, so come out and support the Crusaders in the most merry way you can!