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68
Winner Taylor (Ind.) TAYL 9-7, 1-3 CL
67
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 10-6, 1-3 CL
Winner
Taylor (Ind.) TAYL
9-7, 1-3 CL
68
Final
67
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
10-6, 1-3 CL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Taylor (Ind.) TAYL 35 33 68
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 33 34 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball drops close one to Taylor

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team lost a hard-fought game against Crossroads League rival Taylor University 68-67 on Saturday inside the McDonald Athletic Center.

After a first half that featured 13 lead changes, Taylor grabbed a quick lead to begin the second half and never let it go. The Cougars, trailing by one in the closing seconds, had an opportunity to pull ahead, but a potential game-winning shot by Denver Cade was off the mark as time expired.

Luke Barber had 18 points to pace the Cougars followed by Paul Marandet with 14 and Cade finished with 11.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: No. 15 Spring Arbor 67, Taylor 68

LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 10-6 (1-3 CL), 9-7 (1-3 CL)

 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Spring Arbor and Taylor have a history of close games with 16 of their last 17 meetings being decided by eight points or less, and Saturday proved to be no different.
  • The lead changed hands 13 times through the first 20 minutes with no team leading by more than six points. A late three-pointer by Taylor's Mason Degenkolb gave the visitors a 35-33 advantage at halftime.
  • Barber scored on the opening possession of the second half to tie the score, but the Trojans answered with seven straight points and would hang onto that lead throughout the second half.
  • The Cougars trailed by four, 68-64, before Barber buried his fourth triple of the afternoon to close the gap to one with 1:56 to play. However, the Taylor defense would hold SAU scoreless on its next three possessions, including a three-point attempt by Cade as time expired, to steal a win on the road.

 
 

FOR THE COUGARS

  • Barber was 7-for-14 from the field, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range, on his way to a team-high 18 points. Marandet had 14 points and six assists while Cade posted 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.
  • Brandon Durnell continues to close in on the 1,000 career point milestone. The junior forward scored six points today to get to 980 for his career.
  • Spring Arbor shot 44 percent (24-for-55) on the day and was 48 percent (10-for-21) from behind the arc.

 
 

FOR THE TROJANS

  • Four Taylor players scored in double figures. Ryan Robinson had 18 to lead the way while Degenkolb followed with 17.
  • The Trojans made 52 percent (26-for-50) of their shots and were 9-for-14 from the 3-point line.

 
 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor takes on No. 8 Marian University (12-3, 3-1 CL) at home on Tuesday, Jan. 7 starting at 7 p.m.

 
 

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