Goshen's Quick Start Proves Too Much for Cougars in Loss


	Cougar Basketball Game Recap Goshen's Quick Start Proves Too Much for Cougars in Loss written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (2-7-2012) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team fell behind 20-2 over the first 4:30 and could never recover as the Cougars fell 97-60 to Goshen (Ind.) College in Mid-Central College Conference action on Tuesday night in the Physical Education Center. MVNU (9-18, 3-12 MCC) missed 12 of its first 13 shots from the field as the Cougars found themselves down big early in the game for the second straight contest. Geoffry Gilot led the visiting Maple Leafs (18-9, 8-7 MCC) with 10 quick points, while Kody Chandler capped the surge with a pair of 3-pointers. MVNU pulled within 13 points on two occasions the rest of the first half, but each time Goshen had an answer as the Maple Leafs built as much as a 50-22 lead before the Cougars scored the final five points of the half to pull within 50-27 at the break. Junior guard Ben Severns *(left)* led MVNU with 10 first-half points off the bench, while sophomore wing Austin Semple added eight points. The Cougars shot just 27.3 percent from the field (9-for-33), 22.2 percent from 3-point range (2-for-9), and 70 percent from the free throw line (7-for-10). MVNU committed 11 first-half turnovers that led to 15 points for Goshen. Gilot and Chandler each poured in 14 points in the first half, and the Maple Leafs held a 29-22 rebounding advantage. Goshen shot 45.2 percent from the field (19-for-42), 45.5 percent from 3-point range (5-for-11), and 70 percent from the free throw line (7-for-10). Severns hit a trio of treys in the first four minutes of the second half to pull the Cougars within 60-43 with 16:04 still left in the game. However, MVNU went on a 6:09 scoring drought while the Maple Leafs rattled off 18 unanswered points to build a 78-43 lead by the 10:21 mark. The lead grew to as much as 94-50 before the Cougars closed the game on a 10-3 run to make the final score 97-60 in favor of visiting Goshen, who received votes in the latest NAIA Division II poll this week. Severns was the lone MVNU player in double figures as he poured in 19 points and was 5-for-11 from 3-point range. Taylor and Semple added eight points apiece, and senior forward Danil Zakhlebnyy grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Cougars shot 33.3 percent from the field (21-for-63), 28.6 percent from 3-point range (6-for-21), and 54.5 percent from the free throw line (12-for-22). MVNU finished the game with 20 turnovers and was out-rebounded 50-38. Gilot led Goshen with 21 points, while Chandler added 20 points. Tyler Hall also tossed in 13 points off the bench, and Matthew Martin, Mike Betcher, and Matt Glick grabbed eight rebounds each. The Maple Leafs shot 51.5 percent from the field (35-for-68), 52.4 percent from 3-point range (11-for-21), and 61.5 percent from the free throw line (16-for-26). "We got off to a poor start in the first five minutes of the game and found ourselves swimming upstream the rest of the night," said MVNU coach Matt Moore. "(Goshen) played very hard tonight and I thought we played inconsistent as we didn't do enough to put stops together at the defensive end of the floor." "This group has endured a lot of hardship this season," Moore continued. "Even though they haven't earned their W's, their willingness to battle hasn't wavered. I have enjoyed working with my coaches and especially my seniors to try and find ways to move us forward each and every day, and we will keep running the race until the good Lord returns." On a side note, the game was designated as CareNet Baby Shower Night and $342 in donations and 166 baby items were contributed by the crowd to go towards the ministry efforts of CareNet, a local crisis pregnancy center in Mount Vernon. MVNU will return to action on Saturday when the Cougars will travel to Marian (Ind.) University for another MCC game that will tip off at 3 p.m.

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