MenÂs Basketball Falls to 0-2 on the Season with 100-81 road loss at Spring Arbor

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SPRING ARBOR, Mich. — A 15-2 run to close the first half propelled the host Spring Arbor Cougars to a 100-81 victory over Marygrove men’s basketball on Monday (Nov. 9) in Spring Arbor, Mich. The Mustangs allowed 100-or-more points for the second time in as many outings this season, falling to 0-2 in the process with their WHAC opener ahead on Wednesday (Nov. 11) against No. 3Â Davenport.

The Cougars improved to an even 2-2 on the season in the win and were led by Caleb Hogans with 25 points â one of four Cougars to reach double digits.

Sophomore center Sirafino Davis (Flint, Mich./Tiffin University) and the Mustangs jumped out to a strong start Monday evening, taking a 21-16 lead with 12:25 remaining in the first half after the 6-9 center dropped in his second shot of the half in the painted area. The Mustangs went cold for three minutes, not connecting on another field goal until an Elijah Ingram (Detroit, Mich./Consortium High School) layup at the 8:48 mark of the opening half.

During the near-three minute drought, the Cougars were able to take a 25-21 lead behind a 9-0 run before Ingram connected in the paint.

The Mustangs bounced back, knotting the game up with 6:20 remaining when Ingram struck again to balance the scoreboard at 32. The second Ingram tally would be the second-to-last of the half as the Mustangs went cold once again while the Cougars ended the opening frame on a15-2 run.

The 15-2 run resulted in a commanding 47-34 halftime lead for the Cougars as Hogans let the hosts with 19 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point land. Senior guard Diante Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Central High School) paced the Mustangs effort with nine points at the break.

The Cougars carried their new-found momentum Â from the late run into the second half, outscoring the Mustangs 27-16 over the opening 10 minutes of the latter stanza to take a commanding 74-50 lead in the non-conference tilt. Down 24, the Mustangs battled but could not chip into the lead as the Cougars hit the century mark to top the Mustangs, 100-81.

Taylor led the Mustangs with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in the 19-point non-conference setback. Newcomer DeVontay Green (Pontiac, Mich./Waterford Mott High School) caught fire in the latter half to chime in with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep while Ingram posted an equal 14 points on a 7-for-10 effort from the floor. Freshman forward Andrew Thompson (Utica, Mich./Rochester College) posted eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.

Sophomore guard Tyler Sykes (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson High School) corralled six rebounds and tallied four points in the loss.

The Cougars earned the win behind a 50-percent shooting clip and an equally efficient outing on the defensive end, forcing 14 Mustang turnovers that turned into 21 additional points. The Mustangs forced the Cougars into 11 turnovers of their own, but the hosts were able to take advantage of the opportunities given to own a 21-8 edge in points off turnovers.