Winona Lake, Ind. - The Marian men's basketball were unable to ride the momentum of their two-game winning streak into 2023, as the Knights dropped their first game of the calendar year at No. 4 Grace by a score of 70-59. Marian slides to 13-3 overall on the season and 3-3 in Crossroads League play after the loss.
Marian started strong as they battled against the fourth-ranked Lancers, showing their strength as Christian Harvey and Taeshon Cherry combined on a 9-5 spree in the first four minutes. After the media timeout Grace took control of the momentum, with Jakob Gibbs helping lead the charge to take a 15-11 lead. The Lancers stayed in the lead as the clock rolled under 12 minutes to go in the first half, with the second of two Ian Scott jumpers making it a 19-13 score.
Brody Whitaker and Luke Heady helped take charge in a rally effort, pulling back within three points to answer the home team's charge. Grace would vault their lead to six with 5:15 remaining as Gibbs answered a Luke Gohmann score, as the Knights continued to get contributions from Cherry and Heady. A 6-0 personal run from Gohmann allowed Marian to capture a 30-28 lead with 2:37 remaining, however a quick answer from Cade Gibbs kept the Lancers in front. A make from Jakob Gibbs in the waning seconds would allow Grace to carry a 36-35 lead at the break.
As they did in the first half, Harvey and Cherry came out of the locker room strong scoring the first four points for Marian to assert a 39-38 lead in the opening minute of the period. After trading baskets, Grace took over on the offensive end, going on a 7-0 run with three players contributing to the lead. Despite a timeout called by the Knights to slow down the Lancers, Grace continued to attack and added to their 47-41 lead on their first possession after the stoppage.
Grace ate away the clock working long possessions, holding Marian at bay as the Knights offense endured nearly a six-minute drought, allowing the Lancers to carry their lead to double-figures. Grace would lead by as many as 16 points before the Knights were able to gain any traction, as makes from Heady and Cherry weren't enough to collapse the double-digit deficit. Unable to break back within a three-possession game, Marian fell short in the final eight minutes and ended the game with a 70-59 loss.
The Knights committed just eight turnovers, but were stiff shooting the ball as they shot 18 percent from deep in the loss and 33 percent from the field. Marian's leading scorer was Cherry with 19, as he grabbed five rebounds. Harvey and Heady each finished with 10 points, while Gohmann scored eight to go with six rebounds.
Marian will aim to rebound into the win column and snap their three-game league play losing skid as they host Goshen College at 3 p.m. as part of Marian basketball's youth basketball day.
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