Adam Kelly | Echo
The men's basketball team fell to the top-ranked defense of NAIA Division II Marian University 77-64 on Saturday in Odle Arena. The Trojans have now lost four in a row, bringing them to 9-14 overall and 3-9 in Crossroads League play.
The Trojans shot 52.2 percent from the floor but could not stop the Knights from going 10-of-24 from beyond the arc and 50 percent from the field. Taylor dominated in the paint, scoring 46 points compared to Marian's 27. But the Knights controlled other key categories that sealed the win for them, such as points off turnovers (14-2) and fast break points (20-6).
Marian was led by Aaron Evans and his game-high 33 points. Two other players added double figures. Sophomore Kyle Stidom led the Trojans with 22 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Junior Jesse Coffey also added 15 points, and senior Josh Rikkonen dropped in nine points and six rebounds.
The Trojans never held the lead in the game as Marian scored the first seven points and later went on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 20-11 with 7:17 left in the first half. Taylor stormed back with a run of its own but Marian led 34-27 at half and would not let the Trojans come any closer, despite Taylor shooting 60 percent from the field in the second half.
Taylor went 80 percent from the free throw line but made only four of seven in the second half. Marian went to the line 24 times in the second half, making 17. The Trojans went 4-for-9 from beyond the arc but it wasn't enough to match Marian's 10 treys. Taylor beat Marian in second chance and bench points, 8 to 7 and 14 to 11, respectively. The Trojans lost two in a row for the first time on their home court this season.
The Trojans took on Mount Vernon Nazarene last night on the road, looking to turn things around. Spring Arbor visits Taylor on Saturday at 3 p.m. with the Trojans hoping to stop their home court skid and add one to the win column.
Photography by Timothy P. Riethmiller
