INDIANAPOLIS - Backed by a 58-point second half, the Marian men's basketball team erased a three-point halftime deficit and coasted to a 90-64 win over Wilberforce University on Tuesday night in the PE Center. Marian's win improves the team to 2-0 on the young season.

It took nearly three minutes to take the lid off of the basket, as the Knights and Bulldogs combined for an 0-8 start from the field before Brody Whitaker scored the first points of the game. Wilberforce answered with a 7-0 run and pulled ahead to a 9-4 lead as the game reached it's first media timeout. After the stoppage Dylan Moles briefly halted the Bulldogs momentum with his first points of the game, but back to back three's from the visitors gave helped them to a 15-8 lead.

The Knights slowly worked back into the game and drew to an even 15-15 score after three consecutive makes, but after the second media timeout were unable to keep their foot on the pedal as the Bulldogs broke through Marian's defense from outside. Wilberforce ended the first half with seven made three point shots, using their outside game to lead by as many as five in the final 10 minutes of the first half. The likes of Moles, Whitaker, and Nolan Foster kept Marian in the game and prevented the lead from getting out of reach, as the Knights entered halftime trailing 35-32. 

The second half started back and forth as Jackson Ames and Whitaker scored to bring the game even, but Wilberforce continued to hold their own as they held a 42-38 lead at the under-15 minute timeout. Gus Etchison buried a three on Marian's first possession after the timeout, and started a run as the defensive stops began to mount. Ben Henderson gave Marian the lead for good with 13:57 remaining as his second-chance points provided a 44-43 lead, while Etchison and Whitaker continued to build the advantage.

The run ended with five unanswered points from Whitaker, as the Knights managed a 20-4 run in a 5:20 stretch, giving them a 58-47 lead with 9:51 to play in the game. Marian continued to attack inside as they drew foul multiple trips to the free throw line, with the outside game following as back to back treys from Henderson and Etchison gave Marian a 74-50 lead with 5:25 to play. The surge allowed Marian to slow their pace and control the clock for the final five minutes of the game, leading by as many as 28 points in the final minute before ending the game with a 90-64 victory. 

Marian's defense made their presence felt in the second half, allowing one made three compared to the seven that Wilberforce made in the first half. Conversely, Marian turned their 1-10 first half performance from three into an 8-12 in the final 20 minutes of the game. Whitaker ended the game with two of Marian's makes from deep as he scored a game-high 31 points to go with six rebounds, while Etchison finished with 23 points on a 4-9 performance from outside. Maximus Gizzi led the team with five assists, and Gavin Foe grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. Henderson finished the game with nine points.

The Knights will stay at home as they get set to host the Marian Classic on Thursday and Friday of this week. Marian's first game of the weekend will come against Cumberland University on Thursday night, as they tip at approximately 8 p.m. St. Francis (Ind.) and East-West will tip prior to the start of Marian's game at 6 p.m.



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