PLYMOUTH, Wis. - A layup from junior
Andrew Ayeni gave Marian University men's basketball (5-3, 3-1 NACC) a one-point lead with 1:03 remaining, as the Sabres held on for a 67-64 win over Lakeland.
- The Sabres struggled early. After Marian took a 4-0 lead, the Muskies rallied off 15 unanswered points.
- Junior Andrew Ayeni ended the run with an and-one jumper at 13:39, then added a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five.
- Eight consecutive free-throws and an Ayeni layup capped a 16-0 run, helping the Sabres reclaim the lead at 20-15.
- The half closed as a back-and-forth affair. Four ties and one lead change highlighted a competitive final eight minutes, with both teams entering the break tied at 30-30.
- Another Ayeni and-one layup gave the Sabres an early five-point lead to start the second half.
- Freshman Marvin Haslett scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half, including a three-pointer with 11:02 that gave Marian an eight-point lead, their largest of the game.
- Lakeland clawed back, scoring eleven straight points to turn a deficit into a two-point lead with 8:18 remaining.
- The Muskie lead held for just over three minutes, until Ayeni and Haslett hit consecutive three-pointers to give Marian a 61-57 lead.
- Following two free throws from senior Derek Lindert, Lakeland's Peyton Mrotek hit a three-pointer to give the Muskies a 64-63 advantage with three minutes remaining.
- Neither team scored for over two minutes, until Ayeni hit a clutch layup with just over a minute remaining to give the Sabres a one-point lead.
- A missed three-pointer from Lakeland sent Ayeni to the line, where he sank both free throws, giving Marian a three-point margin with 20 seconds remaining.
- Lakeland held for the final shot, but a potential tying three from Mrotek missed, and Marian held on for a thrilling 67-64 victory.
- Marian held Lakeland to 5-of-21 (.238) shooting from three, including 1-of-10 (.100) in the first half. Meanwhile, Marian were strong from beyond-the-arc, going 8-of-20 (.400).
- The Sabres were once again strong on the glass, outrebounding the Muskies 42-28 and turning 16 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points.
- Marian shot a season-high 27 free throws, converting 21 of them.
- Lakeland's starters played 89% of the team's minutes, contributing to a 25-7 bench-scoring advantage for the Sabres.
- Today's game marked the 83rd all-time meeting between the Sabres and Muskies, with Marian holding a 43-40 series lead.
- The Sabres have won eight of the last nine meetings in the series dating back to 2021.
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Junior Andrew Ayeni continued his impressive stretch of play, posting a career-high 25 points with 11 rebounds and four steals. |
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Freshman Marvin Haslett notched his third consecutive double-figure scoring game, finishing with 18 points off the bench. |
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Senior Alex Vassilakis added seven points and nine rebounds. |
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Sunday, December 14
Marquette, Mich.
2 p.m. |
