AJ Monterossi scored 20 points in the season-opener for the Warriors in a 77-67 win. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University men's basketball team found its groove on Saturday night in its 2015-16 season-opener, coming from behind in the second half to win by 10 points against CSU Maritime, 77-67. The Warriors used a 65.2% shooting effort in the second half en route to the big early-season triumph over a team receiving votes in the NAIA National poll.
"We played a solid defensive game throughout against a pretty good offensive team," said Corban head coach Steve Masten. "Our guards were especially good against their three-point shooters. We were sluggish offensively in the first half, but got it going in the second half. I'm pleased with the effort we gave tonight and am looking to improve next week."
After scoring just 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the contest, the Warriors turned it on late in the first half to cut into the deficit and had the Keelhaulers' lead down to just four points at the halftime break.
In the second stanza, Corban opened up fire, nailing a number of three-pointers and snagged the lead. The near-side left-corner three-pointer was working early on for the Warriors, as everyone wanted to get in on the act. First it was senior forward Cody Crowe (Grants Pass, Ore.) to nail a couple, and then sophomore guard Caleb Dozier (Beaverton, Ore.) and junior guard Caleb Herzberg (Beaverton, Ore.) joined the party with a pair of threes from the left side as well.
Eventually, it was sophomore guard AJ Monterossi (Beaverton, Ore.) and senior forward Cyrus Ward (Gig Harbor, Wash.) providing the clutch baskets down the stretch for the Navy and Gold, securing the 10-point victory over the Keelhaulers.
Monterossi notched 20 points and four boards in the season-opening win, while Ward totaled a team-best 23 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors. As a team, Corban shot 53.1% from the field as a team, and 52.6% from downtown, nailing 10 three-pointers on the evening. Herzberg led the way for Corban with a trio of long-range efforts for the Warriors.
Defensively, Corban held CSU Maritime (3-1) to a 40.8% shooting effort from the field, while also forcing the Keelhaulers into 12 turnovers.
After the win, Ward talked about the game in a post-game interview:
Corban (1-0) returns to action next weekend in the Lewis-Clark State Tournament. The Warriors first game of the weekend is against Lewis-Clark State on Friday at 7 p.m. in Lewiston, Idaho.