WATERTOWN, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University men's basketball team shot nearly 70 percent in the second half and won for the third straight time, all against Northern Athletics Conference opponents, as it defeated Maranatha Baptist Bible College on the road, 70-55, this evening, Jan. 19.
The Sabres broke a 27-all halftime score with a blistering second half shooting display to outscore the Crusaders 43-28 in the final stanza. Sophomore
Cody Veleke led the royal blue and scarlet with 19 points and six rebounds. Sophomore
Sam Koslowski added 13 points off the bench, while junior
Jeff Harris chipped in 10 points, six boards and three assists in the win.
With the win, Marian improves to 6-11 overall, 3-6 in the NAC, while Maranatha falls to 2-9 (0-7 NAC).
Trailing 46-44 with 13:29 remaining in the game, the Sabres embarked on a 16-2 run capped by a Koslowski layup at the 5:47 mark. Maranatha was held without a field goal for a span of 8:53 and was finally snapped by an Aaron Oberholtzer layup at the 5:36 mark to cut the deficit to 60-50.
It was too little, too late, however, as
Alex Gomez and Harris converted consecutive buckets to extend the lead to 14 on the way to a 15-point triumph. Gomez, a freshman, finished with six points, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes off the bench.
The Sabres went 16-for-23 (69.6 percent) from the field in the second half to finish 27-for-49 (55.1 percent) for the game, while dominating the paint with a 36-18 scoring advantage. Marian converted 14-of-16 free throw attempts and out-rebounded the Crusaders 36-28.
Ten of Veleke's 19 points came in the first half as the Sabres shot 42.3 percent (11-for-26). Matthew Hunter was the lone Crusader in double-figures, tallying 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
The Sabres improve to 42-6 all-time against Maranatha with their victory tonight and also string together three wins in a row for the first time since the 2008-09 season, when they accomplished the feat three separate times.
Marian will stay on the road to take on Concordia Chicago this Saturday, Jan. 21. Tip-off is slated for 4:15 p.m. and will follow the women's game at 2 p.m.
