CHICAGO – A defensive battle between last season's two CCAC leaders went the way of visiting Governors State late, as the Roosevelt men's basketball team relinquished a lead in the final minutes and fell narrowly to the Jaguars by a final of 63-60 inside the Goodman Center on Saturday.
Jake Ludwig and DeAnte Barnes had 14 points each for the Lakers (6-4, 2-1 CCAC), who saw their six-game winning streak snapped.
Barnes also added nine rebounds and two steals.
Grant Gibson added 12 points and Chandler Fuzak had 10 while both added seven boards apiece.
Shane Maple led all scorers with 17 points for the Jaguars (5-8, 3-2 CCAC).
Both teams struggled from the floor, with each side shooting under 40 percent for the game.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, who built up a lead that held for much of the game by taking advantage of GSU's 31-percent first-half shooting, the well went dry at the most inopportune time as Roosevelt saw its lead cut due to an inability to find the inside of the cup. The Lakers made just eight of 26 second-half shots, with many of those misses coming late as the lead dwindled down and GSU took advantage.
Roosevelt nursed a three-point lead in the final four minutes, and after leading by just one, back-to-back layups by the Jaguars just before the two-minute mark elicited a timeout and put the guests ahead by three.
Governors State led by five when Gibson made a bucket while fouled for an eventual three-point play with 29 ticks left on the clock to get Roosevelt within two.
Trailing 63-60 with the ball after a GSU free-throw miss, Roosevelt corralled the rebound and had a chance at a game-tying three-pointer. But the Lakers could not get a good look and time ran out.
Governors State scored 16 points on Roosevelt's 14 turnovers.
"We didn't deserve to win the game with how we shot and our defensive miscues," Roosevelt head coach Joe Griffin said. "Give GSU credit for playing very good defense without fouling and forcing us into tough shots. Hopefully we get back on the winning track on Tuesday out of league."
Griffin also recognized the late Ralph Hodge, the longtime Olivet Nazarene head men's basketball coach who passed away this past Thursday. A moment of silence was observed before Saturday's game in honor of Hodge.
"I'd also like to send condolences from RU basketball to the ONU community in honor of Coach Ralph Hodge," Griffin said. "Ralph was a leader and a terrific coach who was admired by many, including myself. His coaching career and impact is something that young coaches like myself can only hope to reach. He will be missed."
Roosevelt hosts Wilberforce (Ohio) this Tuesday at 6 p.m. inside the Goodman Center.
