Findlay Pulls Away Behind Big First Half Run to Down Men’s Basketball, 111-77

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FINDLAY, Ohio — Marygrove men’s basketball couldn’t keep up to high powered University of Findlay as the host Oilers used a big first half run to down the Mustangs, 111-77, in Findlay, Ohio on Saturday (Dec. 19). The loss drops the Mustangs to 1-12 overall with two non-conference games remaining on the 2015 calendar. The Oilers improved to 5-4 on the season with the 34-point win – the largest margin of victory since an 85-48 triumph over Ashland (Ohio) on Jan. 23, 2014 for the NCAA Division II program.

The Mustangs trailed 27-15 with 10:28 remaining in the first half after an Elijah Ingram (Detroit, Mich./Consortium High School) bucket brought the Green and Gold back to within four possessions. Diante Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Central High School) was a force early as well for the Mustangs, but the Oilers ended the half on a 31-19 tear to take a 58-34 lead at the half.

Turnovers opened the game up in the first half as eight Mustang miscues turned into an 18-3 points off turnovers edge for the Oilers. The plus-15 in points off turnovers, combined with a decisive 38-12 points in the paint advantage, sparked the Oilers run to give the hosts a commanding lead at the halftime break.

The Oilers shot 60-perecent in the first half, connecting on 23-of-38 attempts from the field. The Mustangs countered with a 12-for-33 effort (36-percent) through the first 20 minutes of play.

Efficient play in the paint continued for the Oilers in the second half as the Mustangs trailed by as many as 40 on three separate occasions before falling by a 111-77 final tally. The Oilers finished the contest with 40-point advantage in the paint, 72-32, and an 18-point edge in points off turnovers.

Ingram fell two shy of his career-high with a game-best 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, including a 4-of-6 day from three-point land. The junior forward added five rebounds and a pair of assists to lead the Mustangs in Saturday’s non-conference tilt.

Sophomore guard Isaac Gillum (Milwaukee, Wis./Holy Redeemer High School) checked in with 16 points while Taylor followed closely with 14 points of his own to go along with six rebounds. Tyler Sykes (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson High School) tallied 12 points to round out the top scorers for head coach Craig Covington and the Mustangs.

The Oilers had six players reach double figures, led by Dylan Kaufman’s 17 points. Alex White posted 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Oilers.

The Mustangs return to action with non-conference NAIA games at Trinity Christian (Ill.) on Dec. 29 and Purdue-Calumet (Ind.) on Dec. 30. Both games are slated for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off.

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