Case Western Reserve University junior forward Cole Frilling scored 25 points, while senior guard Robert Faller and graduate student guard Griffin Kornaker notched 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the Spartans topped Kalamazoo College 94-74 at Horsburgh Gymnasium on Friday for their ninth-consecutive victory.

The nine-straight wins now stand alone as the second-longest winning streak in team history, and the team is one victory away from matching a program-best 10-game winning streak recorded during the 1971-72 campaign. CWRU raised its record to 9-1 overall this season, improving on what was already the best start in team history.

The Hornets fell to 3-6 overall following the loss.

Frilling's 25 points marked his second-highest single game output this season, while notching 20 or more points for the second-straight game and third time overall in 2021-22. He finished the contest shooting 11-for-17 overall, including two-of-seven on three-point attempts, and collected five rebounds. In addition to his 16 points, Faller added six rebounds and two assists, while Kornaker shot a perfect six-of-six from the floor with five rebounds and four assists. Graduate student forward Brian Hines led all Spartans seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals, while scoring seven points.

During the first half, CWRU shot 52.9% (18-of-34) including 13-of-16 (81.3%) on two-point attempts, and outscored the Hornets 24-8 in the paint, but Kalamazoo stayed in the game behind a seven-for-15 (46.7%) showing on three-point attempts over the first 20 minutes.

The Spartans jumped out to an early eight-point lead behind seven points from Frilling in the first four minutes of the game, including a three that gave CWRU a 12-4 lead with 16:13 to play in the first half. Kalamazoo responded with a 16-4 run of its own that gave the Hornets a 20-16 advantage with 11:52 remaining in the period. With Kalamazoo clinging to a 26-25 lead with 8:22 to play, sophomore forward Hunter Drenth was able to collect an offensive rebound and knock down a put back to give the Spartans a one-point lead again. Drenth's basket started a 20-3 blitz for the Spartans that was capped off by a three from sophomore guard Jeremy Callahan to put CWRU ahead by 16, 45-29, with 2:01 left in the period. The Hornets ended the half with eight-straight points to trim the Spartans' lead to eight, 45-37, by halftime.

A jumper by Kornaker with 17:51 to play in the game put the Spartans ahead 51-42, but Kalamazoo stayed close and pulled back within a point as late as the 10:40 mark, 65-64. However, CWRU's defense locked down from that point forward, allowing the Hornets to hit just three shots from the floor over the final 10 minutes, and held Kalamazoo without a point over the final three and a half minutes of play. Meanwhile, CWRU outscored Kalamazoo 27-10 during the last 10 minutes, and closed out the contest on a 14-0 run over the final 3:18 to secure the 20-point win.

CWRU finished the game shooting 52.3% overall, its fifth effort of 50.0% shooting or higher this year. The Spartans aso outrebounded Kalamazoo 42-25 on Friday afternoon.

DJ Courtney led all Hornets with 22 points and six rebounds during the game.

One win away from matching the longest winning streak in team history, Case Western Reserve will now be off for the holiday season, returning to action on Monday, January 3 to face Hilbert College in Hamburg, New York. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.