University Park, Ill. - The Marian men's basketball team continued their roll through non-conference play Wednesday night in the Chicago suburbs, as the Knights cruised to a 95-76 victory over Governors State. Marian improves to 5-0 in their non-conference slate following their first road win of the season.

Marian and Governors State changed hand with the lead three times in the opening four minutes of the game, with the final change on the first of back to back three point makes by Gus Etchison putting the Knights on top for good Wednesday night. The 12-7 start for Marian quickly pushed to a 20-8 lead through the first 10 minutes of the night, as an early eight points from Etchison and a three from Ben Henderson captured the double-digit lead.

The Knights would lead by double figures for the final 30 minutes of the ball game, as four Maximus Gizzi points coming out of a timeout helped Marian solidify a 14-point advantage. Josh Bryan caught fire after getting his second run of the game in the final seven minutes of the first half, helping increase the visiting lead to 20 points by scoring or assisting on eight consecutive Marian points. Governors State's inability to knock down outside shots continued to play to Marian's favor as the half wore on, with Etchison and Bryan helping to take their team to the halftime break with a 44-23 lead.

The combination of outside scoring from Etchison, Brody Whitaker, and Dylan Moles proved near impossible to guard as the Jaguars had zero defensive answers, with the backcourt trio pushing the lead to 27 points in the first five minutes of the second half. Marian's 60-33 lead at the 15-minute mark would be the largest of the game, as the Jaguars gradually whittled the score back within a 20-point difference.

The Knights were able to maintain their distance on the scoreboard with the offensive power of Whitaker and Bryan, claiming a 25-point lead once again in the final four minutes of the contest. The Jaguars were able to knock in consecutive shots to clip Marian's lead down to 16 points in the final minute of the game, but a late three from Elhadj Diallo put the cherry on top of the victory, as Marian closed the 95-76 victory.

Whitaker led all players in the game with 22 points, leading the Knights in both rebounds with seven and assists with five. Josh Bryan finished the game shooting 7-for-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from downtown, scoring 20 points in 14 minutes. Etchison scored 18 points, and Maximus Gizzi had 11 points to go with five assists. Jackson Ames finished with five points and six rebounds, adding a pair of blocked shots.

Marian shot 57 percent from the field and 52 percent from three in the win, scoring 45 of their 95 points from beyond the arc. 

Crossroads League play begins on Saturday for Marian, as the Knights welcome the defending league champions and second-ranked Grace College to the PE Center for a 2 p.m. tip.

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