Crusaders Defeat PSU Beaver in OT, Fall to PSU Mont Ato

Monaca, Pa.- The Christendom Men's Basketball team travelled to PSU Beaver for the PSU Beaver Holiday Tournament. The Crusaders defeated the hosts PSU Beaver in overtime on Friday night in a thriller. The Crusaders took on a tough PSU Mont Alto, and fell short by a score of 75-60.

Game 1- PSU Beaver

The Christendom men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 72–69 overtime victory over PSU Beaver on the road in the Beaver Holiday Tournament, battling through adversity and closing strong to secure the win. The Crusaders trailed 32–26 at halftime after a difficult opening half but showed resilience on both ends of the floor to force overtime and eventually pull away.

PSU Beaver extended its lead to as many as eight points in the second half, but Christendom steadily chipped away behind dominant interior play from Daniel Schultz, who delivered a standout performance with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting while hauling in a game-high 14 rebounds. His presence in the paint kept the Crusaders within striking distance as the game tightened late.

Down the stretch, John Fowler guided the offense with poise, finishing with 18 points, including 7-of-8 from the free throw line, along with 7 rebounds. Christendom took its first late lead when the Crusaders surged ahead by four with 2:21 remaining in regulation, but PSU Beaver responded to force a 62–62 tie at the end of regulation.

In overtime, Christendom's composure proved decisive. Schultz continued to control the glass and finish through contact, while Fowler and Bobby Vander Woude provided timely scoring and ball movement. Vander Woude finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, contributing on both ends during critical possessions. Luke Vander Woude added a key all-around effort off the bench with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, helping stabilize the offense during the extra period.

Defensively, the Crusaders made winning plays when it mattered most. Charlie Evich set the tone on that end, recording 5 steals to disrupt PSU Beaver's rhythm, while Christendom forced tough looks late and protected the lead at the free-throw line to seal the overtime victory.

Christendom closed the game shooting 70 percent from the line and finished with 17 assists on 25 made field goals, a testament to their execution under pressure. The 72–69 overtime win marked a strong road performance for the Crusaders, highlighted by perseverance, balanced contributions, and clutch play when it mattered most.

Game 2- PSU Mont Alto

The Christendom men's basketball team fell to PSU Mont Alto, 75–60, in the second game of the Beaver Holiday Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders battled throughout but were unable to overcome a slow start and Mont Alto's consistent scoring on both ends of the floor. Christendom trailed 32–25 at halftime and could not close the gap in the second half despite multiple balanced scoring efforts.

PSU Mont Alto established early momentum and maintained control through the opening 20 minutes, while Christendom worked to find rhythm offensively. The Crusaders were paced by John Fowler, who finished with 12 points on an efficient 4-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Luke Ross provided a spark in the starting lineup, scoring 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting while adding two assists.

Off the bench, Charlie Evich delivered one of his strongest performances of the tournament, posting 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals in 28 minutes. Bobby Vander Woude and Michael Vander Woude each scored 10 points, with Michael knocking down 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and Bobby adding 3 assists. Daniel Schultz contributed on the interior with 6 rebounds, while also recording a block as Christendom worked to contest Mont Alto's presence in the paint.

Christendom attempted to make a second-half push, but Mont Alto responded to every run and gradually extended its lead. The Crusaders finished the game shooting 22-of-63 from the field and 8-of-25 from three-point range, while committing 16 fouls that led to key free-throw opportunities for Mont Alto down the stretch.

Despite the result, Christendom continued to show depth and competitive effort throughout the contest. The Crusaders will look to regroup and apply lessons learned from the tournament as they move forward into the next stretch of their schedule.

Up Next: After the tournament, the Crusaders' record goes to 3-7. They now head into Christmas break, and will come back and travel to Philadelphia to take on conference opponents Williamson and Bucks County.