On Thursday, Feb. 1, the SVSU Men’s Basketball team went against Purdue Northwest (PNW), hailing from Hammond, Indiana.
The first score of the game was made by SVSU guard Curtis Jackson, a second year, and the game was held extremely close; up until Forward Kalil Whitehead from Purdue missed a three-point jump-shot.
This allowed Toodles Seal, SVSU guard, and third year student, was able to enter the game from the bench to immediately make a jump shot, allowing the Cardinals to lead 15-10 in the first part of the game.
Calling a timeout, PNW benched guard Jules Bikoy in exchange for guard Kai Steinman, which allowed PNW to score 28-16 against the Cardinals from a back-to-back jump shot from Steinman.
Guard Tre Garrett, a senior, stole a turnover from Purdue guard/forward Dalton Gayman, leading into a layup. PNW worked against SVSU, despite the difference in score, allowing for an even ten-point difference, 28-18.
Seal ended the first half of the game with another jump shot, allowing the Cardinals to boldly lead into the second half in a total of 41-27.
Following the halftime break, Steinman and Gayman were benched, meanwhile Whitehead and CJ Jackson, guard for PNW, returned to the game from both trading out in two different spots in the first half of the game.
A layup made by Dylan West, forward and senior, allowed the Cardinals to score 50-46, with PNW moving upwards from the original deficit seen between the two teams in the earlier half of the game. With a six-point difference, SVSU worked to make up the lost space between the two, but despite their best efforts, came even with PNW with five minutes left in the game, at 56-56.
With these changes, the Cardinals worked hard against PNW to make a dent in the score, which eventually ended 70-64, in favor of the Cardinals.
Overall, both teams stacked up in high similarities to one another when looking at their post-game statistics. Looking at baskets made, the percentages are extremely close, but show where SVSU’s strengths lay in this game against PNW.
The Cardinals at an even 50%, meanwhile Purdue sat at 42.9%. Interestingly, the three-point percentages for both teams sat at the same level – 28.6%. Total rebounds also showed the differences in strength– with SVSU at 38, and PNW at 32. Lastly, turnovers for both teams were consistent, with SVSU at 14 and PNW at 15. The SVSU Men’s Basketball team will face off against Davenport University at home on Thursday, Feb. 8th, at 8 PM.
