INDIANAPOLIS - Led by a 28-point scoring outburst from Brody Whitaker, the Marian men's basketball team cruised to a 100-74 victory over IU-Northwest Saturday evening in the PE Center, ending a two-game losing streak. Marian's win improves their overall record to 6-2 on the season.

Gus Etchison got the scoring started with a second-chance bucket on Marian's opening possession of the game, and the scoring continued for Marian as they jumped their lead to eight after scoring on five of their next six ensuing trips down the court. The Redhawks took an early timeout with Marian in front 12-4, initially failing to slow the Knights down as Jackson Ames and a pair of Ben Henderson three-point field goals kept the home team on top by three scores.

 The Knights led 22-15 with under 11 minutes remaining in the game, but fell back within two-possessions as a Brian Hernandez three from the opposition cut the difference to four. Marian used the media timeout to regroup leading 22-18, and quickly sprung their lead to nine, with Maximus Gizzi and Nolan Foster chipping in to pad the lead. The score held as a three-possession game with IU-Northwest matching the Knights' possessions with makes or stops, but back to back treys from Brody Whitaker and Etchison pushed Marian on top by double-figures, taking a 42-31 lead to the final first half media timeout. Whitaker continued to be strong in the final three minutes of the half dropping six points including a three-point play in the final three seconds.

Marian took a 15-point lead to the break holding a 53-38 edge. Marian shot 57 percent from the floor in the first half, including a red-hot 64 percent from three. 

The Knights continued their hot shooting to open the second half, jumping their lead to 19 points within the first four minutes of the half as Whitaker and Gavin Foe combined for nine of the team's first 11 points. Etchison and Whitaker followed Gavin Foe's three with back to back scores, helping Marian go on an 8-0 run into the under-15 media timeout. Marian led 69-45 thanks to the run, taking firm control of the game.

IU-Northwest would chip away at Marian's second half lead, but were unable to get any closer than 15 points, as the Knights continued to make shots. A jumper in the paint from Foster with 6:47 to play gave Marian a 25-point lead, extinguishing any thought of a comeback. The largest lead of the game for Marian came with 3:03 to play as Foster scored on an assist from Dylan Moles, while the senior post also scored the team's 100th point of the game, as they coasted to the finish with their 100-74 victory.

Whitaker played 30 minutes in the win and scored a team-high 28 points, adding 10 rebounds to secure his first double-double of the season. Etchison finished with 18 points, and Foster scored a season-high 14 off the bench. Foe scored seven points and had seven rebounds, and Gizzi had a team-high two steals.

Marian will jump back into Crossroads League play one final time in the semester, returning to action on December 2 as they travel to Taylor.

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