Second Half Push Falls Short as Men’s Basketball Drops WHAC Road Tilt to SHU, 87-79

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ADRIAN, Mich. — A career-best effort on the road out of junior forward Elijah Ingram was not enough as Marygrove men’s basketball fell short on Saturday (Nov. 21) in a tight Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference battle at Siena Heights, 87-79. Ingram tallied 23 points in a makeshift home tilt opposite Madonna and tied his effort at Siena Heights Saturday as the Mustangs (1-7, 1-4 WHAC) lost the close three-possession battle.

Ingram’s 23 points was seven points better than his previous best in any road game over the past three seasons.

The host Saints (3-3, 2-2 WHAC) won the first-half, coming from behind after the Mustangs jumped ahead to take an early 6-0 lead with 18:17 remaining on the clock in the opening period. The Saints answered after the initial Mustang burst, posting a 12-0 run of their own to take a 12-6 lead with 13:12 showing on the first-half clock.

Ingram stopped the run for the Mustangs by dropping in four straight points to get the Green and Gold within two, 12-10, before the Saints ultimately took a 36-31 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Mustangs tied the game on two occasions in the first half, led by a game-best 10 points from Ta’Kein Dixson (Atlanta, Ga./Loganville High School). Ingram followed with nine points of his own as the Mustangs trailed by five at the break.

Third-year head coach Craig Covington and the Mustangs were able to take the lead three times in the second half, twice off the hot hand of Ingram as the junior tallied eight of the team’s nine points over a stretch that resulted in a 69-68 advantage with 4:34 remaining. The Mustangs took their final lead of the contest with 3:47 to play when a layup from sophomore guard Kenneth Miller (Flint, Mich./Grand Blanc High School) gave the Green and Gold a 71-70 edge.

The Saints used home-court advantage from there, ending the game on a 19-8 run over the final 3:47 to send the Mustangs to their third-straight defeat since their victory over Madonna on Nov. 15.

Ingram’s 23 points paced the Mustangs effort and was followed up by Dixson’s 14 points and five assists. Senior guard Diante Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Central High School) put forth a well-rounded effort, posting 12 points to accompany a team-best nine rebounds and six assists. The balanced line is the latest sign of growth out of a senior that continues to close in on 1,500 career points.

Isaac Gillum (Milwaukee, Wis./Holy Redeemer High School) and Miller checked in with 12 points each to round out the double-digit scorers for Covington’s Mustangs. Gillum caught fire in the latter half on his way to pouring in nine of his 12 points over a five-minute stretch.

Michael Fomby led four Saints in double figures with 19 points on a 9-of-10 effort from the free-throw line.

The game was ultimately decided on the free-throw line where Fomby and the Saints converted 21-of-30 tries compared to the Mustangs 14-for-19 mark at the charity stripe.

The Mustangs host No. 17 Northwestern Ohio at Madonna University on Tuesday (Nov. 24) at 8 p.m. The Mustang Sports Network will stream the game live on marygrovemustangs.com/live beginning at 8 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the completion of the women’s game).

MEN’S BASKETBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | [email protected]/* */ | @tjohnston56
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