Indianapolis, IN
-- The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team won its second game in a
row with a 74-71 overtime victory on the road over Marian College and leveled
their record to 5-5 in the Mid-Central College Conference and 13-11 overall. The loss for Marian dropped the Knights to
12-8 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
Once again, the tandem efforts of seniors DJ Baisden and
Willie Pickvet who combined for 53 of the Cougars 74 points were the catalyst
for the win. Pickvet connected on five
of six shots from 3-point range on the way to his career high 29 points and
hauled down 11 rebounds. Baisden's 24
points included hitting 10 of 12 shots from the free throw line.
Marian came to play early in the ballgame as they jumped out
to a 7-0 lead over the first 2:30 of the contest. SAU cut the lead back to
three, 7-5, with 15:09 to go in the half, but MU was able to push it back to
seven, 11-4.
The Knights were able to maintain the lead until the 6:54
mark when SAU cut it to three at 19-16. But Marian was able to out-score the
Cougars by a 15-6 margin over the next 6:18 to open a 12-point lead at 34-22.
The Cougars struck as the horn sounded with a 3-pointer to close the first half
down by nine, 34-25.
The Knights held SAU to 38 percent (9-of-24) from the field and hit at a 43
percent (12-of-28) clip in the first frame. MU also capitalized on 12 SAU
turnovers to the tune of 14 points.
"We really didn't play well in the first half," commented
Head Coach, Ryan Cottingham. "We didn't
shoot the ball well, and turned the ball over way to many times. I was just hoping that if we could keep it
close enough in the first half until we could turn it around to have a shot in
the second half, we might be alright."
The second half started with the Cougars hitting a three-pointer and a layup to
cut the lead to four, 34-30, with 17:47 to go, but the Knights were able to
push it back to seven, 39-32, with 13:22 remaining. Back-to-back SAU
three-pointers cut the lead to one, 41-40, with 11:01 to go.
The Knights were able to maintain a small lead over the next 4:38, but, with
5:29 to go, the Cougars took their first lead of the game, 56-54. Willie Pickvet was fouled, but connected on a
short jumper and was able to convert the three point play. The Knights tied the
score on the next possession, but back-to-back threes by Pickvet, and then
Baisden put the Cougars back in front by six, 62-56, with 2:59 remaining.
Spring Arbor was unable to score in the remaining 2:59 and three
field goals by Marian tied the score and sent the game into overtime.
Spring Arbor took the quick lead in OT with two free throws
and a field goal by Pickvet and a 3-pointer by Baisden and outscored Marian
12-9 in the extra period.
It was the second overtime game this year for Spring Arbor,
the first since a 48-52 loss, on the road, to Aquinas College on November 13,
2010.
The Cougars will return home after two weeks away this
Saturday, January 29 at 3:00 when the University of Saint Francis visit Spring
Arbor.
