SPRING ARBOR, MI – Junior, Rob Hogans entered tonight's basketball game with 999 career points needing to make only one basket to become the 40th player in Spring Arbor University history to score 1,000 points in his career. It didn't take long to reach that milestone. After Taylor University's Tommy Peller opened up the scoring in the game with a field goal just 31 seconds into the game, Matt Van Pelt found Hogans sneaking along the baseline and threw him a perfect Alley-Oop finding Hogan, who can 'leap out of the gym', for a lay-up and the bucket he needed.
Play was halted and Hogans was honored with the game ball and play continued in the game. The Trojans spoiled the night for Hogans and the Cougars as they would go on to defeat Spring Arbor 68-58.
Spring Arbor had only five players score in the game led by Chris Bellamy's 17 points and Matt Howe's 16 points. Hogans and Matt Carden scored 11 and 10 points respectively. Peter Berry chipped in four points to round out the Cougars scoring.
Spring Arbor suffered another inconsistent night of shooting hitting 21-58 shots (36%) from the field including just 2-14 (14%) from 3-point range. Taylor's outside shooting, 9-18 from 3-point range, put Spring Arbor in a tough spot for much of the second half.
Chris Bellamy hit a 3-pointer to close the first half of play to put the Cougars in the lead 32-31 at intermission and Spring Arbor would start the second half with six straight points to open up a seven point lead. Spring Arbor would increase the lead to eight points (41-33) a few minutes later but that lead would melt away as Taylor would out-score the Cougars 33-15 over the next 15 minutes and take a 10 point lead with just 1:28 remaining.
The Cougars fall to 13-8, 3-6 for the year while Taylor improves to 14-7, 6-3. Spring Arbor will face Bethel College on Saturday at home against Bethel College. The game at slated for a 3:00 tip.
