INDIANAPOLIS - Playing in their penultimate game of the 2022 calendar year, the Marian men's basketball team coasted to a comfortable home win against East West. Marian's 118-64 victory over the Phantoms improves their record to 12-2 overall on the season.
After shaking off the rust from an 18-day layoff, the Knights found a groove in the third minute of play with Luke Gohmann canning an open three. The senior's deep shot gave the Knights an 8-4 lead, with Maximus Gizzi and Taeshon Cherry knocking down shots to help extend the lead to seven at the first media timeout. Leading 15-8, Marian maintained their distance over the Phantoms, pushing the margin to double figures as Cherry made shots inside and out.
East West was able to cut Marian's lead down to seven on multiple occasions as the clock dipped below nine minutes, but a three-point play from the California native drove the lead back to double-digits. Josh Bryan and Gavin Foe heated up after the second media timeout and started a Marian run, as the lead quickly vaulted to 20 points. The tandem drove the Marian total over 50, as the Knights closed the first half leading 57-34.
In the second half Marian got early points from Bryan and Cherry as the led blossomed to 24, while a second made three-pointer from Gizzi saw the lead carry to 27 as the clock rolled down to 16 minutes remaining. Hayden Langkabel stayed steady driving to the dish twice and pushing the team total to 73. A three form Luke Heady at the 9:49 mark in the second half capped a 16-8 run, and as the clock rolled under nine minutes to play a Jackson Ames bucket shot the lead to 40 points for the first time. Two free throws from Langkabel had Marian hit the century mark, and in the final seven minutes the Knights outscored the Phantoms 18-12, coasting to their 118-64 win.
Marian's win over East West is their largest against the Phantoms in five meetings, as the 54-point margin of victory tops the previous mark of 49 set in 2017. The Knights shot 61.1 percent from the field in the win, and made 18 of 31 shots from deep. All 10 Knights that played scored, with Cherry leading the team with a game-high 29 points and seven rebounds. Bryan scored 21 points after pouring it on in the second half, and both Langkabel and Brody Whitaker scored 13 points. Foe dropped 11 points coming off the bench, and two steals for Christian Harvey allowed the redshirt-senior to become Marian's official all-time leader in steals.
Marian will finish the 2022 portion of their schedule on Friday night, as they travel to Rio Grande University for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Red Storm.
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