Chris Luther

Nate West scored 19 points and led four Goshen players in double figures as the Maple Leafs used a pair of 7-0 runs late in the second half to defeat Denison, 75-62 in the opening game of the Sodexo Classic from Denison University.

Goshen jumped out to a 21-8 lead in the first half but the Big Red fought back and a 3-point basket by Chris Luther (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) with 55 seconds left in the period cut the Leafs lead to one at 29-28.

As the second half opened the Big Red took their first lead of the night when freshman guard Jim Leffew's (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach) 3-pointer off an assist by Jeremy Stuhlfauth (Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone) hit nothing but net.  With 11:47 to play and Goshen leading by two, Caleb Kitchell's jumper would spark the Maple Leafs to another 7-0 run which would extend their lead to 54-45 with 8:50 left in the contest.

Another 3-pointer by Leffew with 6:11 remaining would cut the lead to six points but the Goshen defense would clamp down over the final three minutes, forcing the Big Red to go just 2-for-10 from the field resulting in a 13-point victory for the visitors.

A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Goshen entered tonight's contest with seven games and a 4-3 record under their belts while Denison fans were treated to the collegiate debut of six first-year players for the Big Red squad. 

Denison was led in scoring by Luther with 12 points while Pat Sullivan (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and Leffew each scored 10 points.  Sullivan was the team leader in assists with five.

For Goshen, West's 19 points and 10 records paced the victors.  Kyle Laker was 7-for-8 from the field for 15 points.  He also added two blocked shots.

Goshen will return to the Livingston Gymnasium court tomorrow when they take on Hanover College in the second game of the 2008 Sodexo Classic.  Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.  Denison's next game will be Sunday (Nov. 23) when they host Hanover at 3:30 p.m.