SPRING ARBOR, MI – For the first time in his very impressive career, Rob Hogans scored more than 30 points in back to back games. On February 1, Hogans poured in 42 points against Bethel College and tonight against Grace, Hogans led all scorers with 32 points. Hogans heroic effort wasn’t enough, however as the Cougars lost to the Lancers 68-64.
Despite trailing the Lancers by as many as eight points in the first half, Spring Arbor held a narrow, one point lead after the first 20 minutes of play. The score at intermission was Spring Abror32, Grace 31.
Grace came out of the half with a little more momentum and took a 39-34 lead after three minutes of play. Neither team scored a point for a little under four minutes of action and with 12:59 left on the clock the score was still 39-34 until Thomas Starks connected from outside the arc to break the drought.
Over the next several minutes, the Cougars and Lancers traded blows and provided the fans that braved the cold and snowy roads a game worth the price of admission. With less than three minutes to play, the score was 55-54 with Grace holding the advantage over the Cougars.
The last minute of the game was exciting to watch as each team worked the clock to gain any advantage they could against each other. With Grace leading 58-54, each team scored 10 points in the final minute in a frenzy of action and strategy. Spring Arbor trailed by just two points with six seconds on the clock, but had to foul and as Grace did coming down the stretch, made their free throws and iced the game.
The 32 points from Hogans leap-frogged the senior into a tie for seventh place with Spring Arbor’s most prolific scorer, Jack Evans (73′). Hogans passed former teammate Chris Bellamy (12′), and Dave Ziegler (78′) on the Cougars All-Time scoring list.
The Cougars fall to 10-15 and 5-8 and a solo seventh spot in the CL Standings and Grace improves to 15-9 and 7-6 and a solo sixth spot in the CL. The Cougars travel to Upland, IN for a rematch with Taylor University on Saturday at 3:00. Taylor and SAU went into double overtime before deciding the winner with SAU coming out on top with a 81-74 win in Spring Arbor on January 11.