Spring Arbor University enjoyed its most balanced scoring attack
of the season as the Cougars (5-5, 2-0) defeated Marian College (3-3, 0-2)
58-44 on streaky shooting. The Cougars had
four players in double digits and came out of the gate red-hot hitting the
first 8 shots of the night and built an early 12-1 lead. DJ Baisden led all
scorers with 14 points on the night, Willie Pickvet and Matt Howe scored 12
apiece and Freshman Rob Hogans hit 2 big three-pointers in the 2nd
half on his way to 10 points.
Marian clawed their way back from the early deficit to tie
the game at the half 23-23. After a few
sloppy minutes of basketball by both teams to start the second half, Spring
Arbor went on a 21-6 run to break the game open and then cruised home for the
win.
The play of Willie Pickvet and Matt Howe, both giving a
double-double effort tonight, was huge for Spring Arbor. Each player had 12 points and 10 rebounds and
helped the Cougars win the battle of the boards 32-23. It is really a strong performance when you
consider that the Marian team was a bigger team physically then Spring Arbor.
"It was a great team effort that pulled that win out for us,"
Coach Ryan Cottingham said. "Matt Howe
is developing into a really nice player with his first double-double and Willie
(Pickvet) gets his second double-double in a row, he's getting there as
well. Rob Hogans hits a couple of big
three's for us. Were coming along, but I
see some things that a young team does and I know we still have some work to
do. But, I am thrilled for the guys with
this win.
The Cougars are 5-0 at home and 0-5 on the road and will
travel to St. Francis on Saturday. "We'll
have our hands full with those guys," continued Cottingham.
