Cougars Drop Fifth Straight with 73-56 Loss at No. 24 Marian


	Cougar Basketball Game Recap Cougars Drop Fifth Straight with 73-56 Loss at No. 24 Marian written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (2-11-2012) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team committed 24 turnovers that led to 30 points for NAIA Division II No. 24 Marian (Ind.) University as the Cougars dropped their fifth straight game with a 73-56 road loss in Mid-Central College Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The score was tied at 11-11 after the first 10 minutes of action before the host Knights (18-9, 9-7 MCC) used a 12-2 run to take a 23-13 lead by the 7:20 mark as Tyler Kleinschmidt and Aaron Evans each scored five points to fuel Marian's surge. Trailing 26-16 with 4:38 left in the half, MVNU (9-19, 3-13 MCC), who never led in the game, scored nine straight points to pull within 26-25 on a 3-pointer by senior guard Robbie Taylor *(left)* with 2:30 remaining before the break. Taylor scored seven of the team's nine points during the rally with sophomore wing Matt Anglea adding a jumper. However, the Knights were able to answer with a 9-2 run the rest of the half as Marian took a 35-27 lead to the locker room at the break. Taylor led the Cougars with 12 first-half points, while sophomore wing Austin Semple added seven points. Sophomore post Caleb Williams also grabbed five rebounds, tossed in four points, and dished out three assists. MVNU shot 47.8 percent from the field (11-for-23), 37.5 percent from 3-point range (3-for-8), and hit both of their free throw attempts. Evans scored 10 points to lead the Knights, while Alex Sylvester added nine points. Marian shot 39.4 percent from the field (13-for-33), 40 percent from 3-point range (6-for-15), and 50 percent from the free throw line (3-for-6). The Knights also forced 11 turnovers by the Cougars. Marian got off to a good start in the second half as a 20-8 run over the first 10 minutes gave the Knights a commanding 55-35 lead. MVNU missed its first six shots from the field and committed seven turnovers during this span. From that point on, the Cougars were unable to get any closer than 15 points the rest of the way as Marian cruised to the 73-56 victory. Semple finished with 17 points to lead MVNU, while Taylor added 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Williams and senior forward Danil Zakhlebnyy each scored six points and grabbed six rebounds with Williams also adding four assists and three blocked shots. The Cougars shot 46.8 percent from the field (22-for-47), 28.6 percent from 3-point range (4-for-14), and 61.5 percent from the free throw line (8-for-13). Sylvester led Marian with a game-high 24 points as he nailed six 3-pointers. Evans added 18 points, and the Knights committed just eight turnovers in the game. Marian shot 41.3 percent from the field (26-for-63), 37 percent from 3-point range (10-for-27), and 57.9 percent from the free throw line (11-for-19). "We allowed the lead to grow right before the half and I thought it did us in," said MVNU coach Matt Moore. "Confidence is something that can really help a team when it is high and hurt a team when it is down and we just haven't found a way to keep our confidence up. We need a great week of practice to give our seniors an opportunity to go out with style and class." The Cougars will play their final road game of the year on Tuesday when MVNU travels to Spring Arbor (Mich.) University for another MCC game that will tip off at 7 p.m. Then, the Cougars will close out the season at home on Saturday at 3 p.m. against the University of Saint Francis (Ind.).

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