The Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team fell to Kuyper College, 98-89, in a non-league contest Saturday afternoon at the Fitness and Recreation Center.
Senior Kaspars Brencans (Riga, Lativa/Florida Air Academy) and junior Ryan Rader (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) each scored a team-high 19 points, with Rader shooting an impressive 9 of 11 from the field while garnering a game-high 13 rebounds.
Senior Noah Allen (Flora, Ind./Carroll) added 16 points, two assists and two steals and classmate Aaron Davis (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) chipped in 15 points and a game-high four steals to go along with two assists.
Both teams came out of the gates strong, trading baskets for the first part of the half, until a string of baskets by the Peregrines increased their lead to 31-24 just under 10 minutes in the opening period. The Black and Gold (3-5) would continue their offensive dominance midway through the first half, as a Morgan Booher (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood Christian) trifecta but the Peregrines up 40-31.
The Cougars would battle back, going on a 9-0 run thanks to buckets by Justin Baker and Kyle Hoek to even the score at 40 apiece. Purdue Calumet would bounce back late in the half behind layups from Allen and Dayvohn Braxton (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and two baskets by Rader to take a 49-45 lead heading in to the break.
The second half started off much like the first, having three lead changes in the first seven minutes. Kuyper would finally build a 73-64 advantage after back-to-back baskets by Hoek increased the Cougars lead with 9:11 left.
A Rader layup with tied the game at 87-all with 1:25 to play, but Kuyper’s Same Cuello responded with two buckets and a free throw to push the Cougars’ lead back to five, 91-87, with 8 seconds left. Kuyper would then go 6 of 6 from the free throw line to seal it late.
Kuyper’s Kyle Hoek led all scorers with 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting while adding eight rebounds and three assists. Cuello added 16 points and chipped in five assists.
Purdue Calumet sophomore Danny Paschen (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) added six points and 13 boards Booher finished with six points, finishing 2 of 5 from downtown.
The Peregrines return to action Wednesday, Dec. 3 as they travel to Kalamazoo to take on the Hornets in a non-league matchup. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.