Men’s Basketball Drops Home Opener to Siena Heights

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DETROIT – Playing their first regular season game since the opening weekend of play, the Marygrove men’s basketball team had trouble shaking off the rust Saturday (Nov. 15) in Detroit against Siena Heights. The Saints, behind stellar defense and a punishing offensive attack, pulled away in the second half to win the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opener, 85-73, sending the Mustangs record to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.

In the first half, the Saints (3-2, 1-0 WHAC) and Mustangs engaged in a see-saw battle that led to a six-point deficit for the Green and Gold at the break. The Saints went big, taking any opportunity they could to get the ball to the paint against the smaller Mustangs lineup. The game plan worked throughout the opening stanza as the Saints took a 26-18 advantage in points in the paint into the half.

The Mustangs made a couple pushes in the second half, attempted to regain the lead, but couldn’t break through offensively in their first regular season game played since Nov. 1. The visiting Saints took advantage, leading by as many as 17 points in the latter stanza before taking the 12-point conference victory.

Senior guard Darryll Dixon (Flint, Mich./Hamady High School) led the Mustangs with 18 points and four steals, while junior guard Diante Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Central High School) worked his way to 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and six rebounds.

JuJuan Armstrong (Detroit, Mich./Michigan-Dearborn) and Tyler Sykes (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson High School rounded out the double figure scorers for the Mustangs with 14 and 11, respectively. Armstrong added a team-high 10 rebounds in the conference setback.

Freshman center Sirafino Davis (Flint, Mich./Tiffin University) did his best to keep the Saints at bay, swatting away five shots while altering many others on the afternoon.

Christian Covile led the Saints with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Mustangs will hit the road to take on nearby foe Madonna University Wednesday (Nov. 19) at 7:30 p.m.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
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