INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian men's basketball team earned an uplifting Crossroads League win Wednesday night in the PE Center, taking down (RV) Bethel 85-78 to defend their home court. Gus Etchison and Maximus Gizzi played key roles for the Knights in their win, lifting the team record to 13-3 overall and 3-3 in CL action.

The Knights came out scorching the nets in the first half, pouring in 12 points in the first three minutes of the game as Josh Bryan and Gus Etchison scored or assisted on each of the first five made field goals. Bethel would contest the home team and rallied back with a 8-0 run powered by the Pilots' Drew Lutz, taking a 13-12 lead at the first media timeout of the game. 

Marian would pull back in front after the timeout but their lead in the game was brief, as a Clay Hilliard three vaulted the Pilots in the lead at the 13:06 mark. Hilliard's three put the opposition in control, as the Knights could do no more than match Bethel as they ran in front 29-22 at the second media stoppage. Bethel would push their lead to as many as 10 in the first half, but shots from downtown from Ben Henderson and driving layups scored by Maximus Gizzi kept Marian within range. A pair of foul shots made by Josh Byran with 2:09 remaining helped Marian build momentum, and in the waning minute of the half six unanswered points from Etchison, including a banked three at the buzzer, put the Knights back in the game as they trailed 44-41 at the break.

Bethel would take the first punch in the second half as Lutz canned a shot from downtown on their first offensive trip, but the Knights kept strong, attacking inside with Gizzi and Nolan Foster. The Pilots lead would grow no larger than six points in the second half, and a spark on the front side of the media timeout led by Etchison and Jackson Ames brought Marian within one point. After the media stoppage at the 13:58 mark, Marian took a brief lead with Gavin Foe sinking a jump shot, and reclaimed it for good after a Bethel score with Dylan Moles going coast-to-coast to find a basket.

Ames pushed Marian ahead for good with 12:16 to play as his layup made it a 60-57 score in favor of the home team, and Josh Bryan padded the advantage with an open trey on the ensuing possession. Four different Knights helped make the six-point lead a 10-point advantage with 8:21 to play, as Marian found a rhythm and began controlling the clock. A 5-0 run by the Pilots started prior to the under-five minute media timeout gave them life and cut Marian's lead to five points, but sticking to their gameplan, Gizzi led the Knights offense and scored five consecutive points to surge the lead back to double figures.

Bethel would trim away Marian's 83-73 lead with five quick points, but Marian's defense locked in following the surge, holding Bethel scoreless over the final 2:29 of the night. The Knights forced one turnover while Bethel shot 0-6 from the floor in the stretch, expanding their lead with a pair of free throws in the final minute to end the game victorious 85-78.

The Knights ended the game with a plus-three advantage on the glass and forced 11 Bethel turnovers in the win while committing just seven infractions. Etchison paced Marian and poured in 26 points in the win, adding six assists and a steal to his name. Gizzi scored 18 points coming off of his career-best on Saturday, and led the Knights with three steals. Bryan finished the game with 16 points, and Nolan Foster scored six points while corralling a game-high 11 rebounds. 

Marian will return on the road this Saturday aiming for their second win of the week, taking on St. Francis in Fort Wayne. Tip is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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