November 15, 2004
Men's Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SVSU WINS SEASON OPENER, 67-58, BEHIND NETHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE AND McLAURIN'S 19 POINTS

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The beginning of the Jamie Matthews era on the bench began with a 67-58 win over visiting Madonna University on Monday night from the James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena. The Cardinals got big efforts from a pair of newcomers as senior Kenneth Nether (Southfield, Mich./Canton) posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards and junior Jeremiah McLaurin (Saginaw, Mich.) attempted a school-record 14 triples connecting on five for a game-high 19 points.
    The Cardinals held a 27-24 lead at intermission as SVSU shot 40 percent (12-of-30) from the floor and had 13 second-chance points. SVSU came out strong building a 16-4 lead in the first six minutes. The Crusaders began chipping into the lead over the next ten minutes and trailed 24-17 at the 3:19 mark on a jumper by Joe Kofahl.
    The second half started out with the Cardinals rebuilding an eight-point lead at 36-28 5:20 into the half on a bucket by Nether. The Crusaders went on a 15-6 run over the next five minutes and took their first lead since 4-2 just two minutes into the contest. Noel Emenhiser put Madonna ahead with a jumper at the 10:14 mark. Madonna had their largest lead at 49-43 with 8:33 to go on a triple by Mike McKeever.
   SVSU responded over the next four minutes and regained the lead, 56-53, at 4:12 on a three-pointer by McLaurin. The Cards held Madonna without a point for 3:44 during their comeback and stretched their lead at 2:01 to 61-53 on a pair of free throws by senior Anthony Parker (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores), who finished with 12 points and six rebounds. SVSU went 6-of-6 at the foul line for the remainder of the game to secure the win.
    SVSU owned a 22-14 advantage in the paint and held a substantial 45-27 edge on the boards, including 20 offensive rebounds. The Cardinals held Madonna to 39.6 percent shooting (21-of-53) and themselves shot 75 percent from the free throw line in the second half (15-of-20). SVSU (1-0) will next host Southern Illinois-Edwardsville of the Great Lakes Valley Conference on Thursday, November 18 beginning at 7:30 pm.

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053