Pontiac Phoenix Hold Off Lansing Eastern in Defensive Battle, 45–39 in game 2 of Tip-Off Classic

Caden Covington waits for the inbound pass Saturday afternoon. Photo by Travis Long | TBM Team

The second game of the day at the Moneyball Tip-Off classic featured a gritty, defense-heavy matchup as the Pontiac Phoenix outlasted Eastern Lansing, earning a 45–39 win.

Pontiac jumped out early, holding a 9–3 advantage late in the first quarter before closing the period on an 11–point run to take a 12–3 lead. Eastern struggled to find a rhythm early, but the momentum began to shift quickly in the second quarter.

Raul Romero drives past a Pontiac defender Saturday afternoon. Photo by Travis Long | TBM Team

Eastern Lansing came out of the break energized, opening the second quarter on a strong run to cut the deficit to 12–10. After several back-and-forth possessions, the Quakers tied the game at 14–14. The remainder of the half turned into a physical, defensive battle with frequent fouls and limited scoring, as Pontiac carried a slim 23–20 lead into halftime. The third quarter continued the low-scoring trend, with both teams locked in defensively and possessions hard to come by. Pontiac managed to maintain control throughout the period, heading into the fourth quarter with a 32–27 advantage. Pontiac remained steady down the stretch, protecting the lead through the entire fourth quarter. With 1:30 remaining, the Phoenix held a 43–37 lead before closing out the game at the free-throw line to secure the 45–39 victory. Senior Alfornice Manzie was named Player of the Game, leading Pontiac with 19 points. Eastern Lansing was paced by Ian Curtis, who scored 18 points in the loss. Pontiac’s defensive discipline and timely scoring proved to be the difference in a hard-fought contest from start to finish.