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FORT WAYNE, IN — Madonna University built a double-digit lead behind a blistering shooting display but could not withstand a second-half surge, falling 102-93 to Indiana Tech on Saturday afternoon at the Schaefer Center. The Crusaders led 46-38 at the half and were still in front early in the second half before the Warriors used a decisive run and a plus-eight turnover margin to take control down the stretch.
Joey Liedel turned in a standout offensive performance for Madonna, pouring in a game-high 35 points while knocking down 8 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Liedel capped a strong opening 20 minutes by heaving in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Crusaders into the locker room with an eight-point cushion. Madonna shot 50.8 percent from the field (32-for-63) and 46.7 percent from 3-point range (14-for-30), consistently generating quality looks against the Indiana Tech defense.
The Crusaders carried that momentum into the second half when DeAntwan Randall finished a layup at the 18:56 mark to push the lead to 48-40. Indiana Tech responded with increased pressure and efficient scoring, quickly erasing the deficit. A layup by Blake Davison with 16:38 remaining tied the game at 52-52, marking the turning point as the Warriors began to dictate the pace on both ends…