“You played a heckuva game,” head coach Mike Turner told Crawford. “Now you have to be the best cheerleader we’ve got.”
The Britons’ best player fouled out with 2:44 remaining in regulation and the Britons holding onto a two-point lead, but losing the momentum. However, Albion responded with big baskets and free throws down the stretch to defeat Spring Arbor University, 65-64, in a non-league game Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Crawford, who’s scored at least 20 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in every game this season, finished with 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting from both the field and the free throw line and grabbed 15 boards.
Crawford fouled out on an off-the-ball foul that occurred just as Spring Arbor hit a 3-pointer to cut Albion’s lead to 58-56. A free throw later, the lead was down to one. Albion led by as many as 12 points in the first half.
With 1:23 remaining Spring Arbor’s Dajuan Jefferson scored to put the Cougars up 59-58. The lead changed hands three times after that.
Two free throws by Albion junior center Evan Way put Albion on top with a minute remaining. Ten seconds later Spring Arbor’s Micah Lancaster, who scored 27 points on the night, scored to give the Cougars their final lead.
The biggest shot came with 30 seconds remaining when Albion senior forward Garrett Gibbons hit his second 3-pointer of the game from deep in the corner.
Spring Arbor had a 3-pointer rattle out with just under 10 seconds left, and Way hit two more free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining to ice the contest. Lancaster completed the game’s scoring, hitting his fifth three of the contest with one second to play.
Way finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Albion’s other player in double figures was senior point guard Mike Bailey, who poured in 10, including two 3-pointers. Gibbons finished with eight.
Jefferson had 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting for the Cougars and Mike Folkert added 10.
Albion shot 47.9 percent and Spring Arbor shot 42.9 percent from the field. Albion outrebounded Spring Arbor 39-27 thanks mostly to Way and Crawford.
Spring Arbor coach Ryan Cottingham said of Crawford: “He’s a phenomenal player. You don’t see players at this level with his size and his strength.”
Crawford is averaging 24.3 points and 13.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 70 percent from the field.
Albion improved to 5-1 with its fifth consecutive victory after starting the year with a loss. Spring Arbor fell to 9-3 with its third consecutive loss.
Albion now has 10 days off to complete finals before it travels down to Conway, Ark., to take on the University of Dallas on Dec. 17.