Sophomore Jordan Tucker notched a game-high 26 points in a 67-53 upset win over #15 Spring Arbor on Saturday.

INDIANAPOLIS - It was a complete reversal for the Marian College men's basketball team to end this week. After a flat performance against Huntington on Tuesday, the Knights upset No. 15-ranked Spring Arbor University, 67-53, on Saturday at the Physical Education Center.

 

The Knights improved to 10-9 on the season and 1-8 in Mid-Central College Conference play.

 

SAU opened the game with an emphatic dunk to take a 2-0 lead, but the Knights quickly responded with a three-pointer. The teams would exchange the lead two times before the Knights tied the game, 8-8, with 12:43 remaining in the half. A three-pointer by freshman Jameson Wheeler put the Knights up, 11-8, with 11:52 to go in the first period.

 

They would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.

 

The Knights took an eight-point lead, 17-9, with 9:30 to go in the half, but SAU was able to cut it back to five, 18-13. The Knights would push the lead as high as nine, 30-21, as the buzzer sounded ending the first half.

 

Out of the locker room, the Cougars immediately scored the first four points and cut the lead back to five. However, the Knights went on a 5-0 run to push the lead to double digits, 35-25, with 15:38 to go.

 

The Cougars cut the advantage to as low as nine, but could get no closer as the Knights pushed the lead to as high as 19, 57-38, with 7:56 to go before closing out the 14-point win, 67-53.

 

The Knights shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field in the second half and 48 percent (22-for-46) for the game including 44 percent (8-for-18) from three-point range.

 

The Cougars shot a respectable 42 percent (17-for-41), but the Knights' defense clamped down on the No. 15 Cougars to secure their third win over a ranked opponent and their first conference win of the season.

 

Sophomore Jordan Tucker (Kirklin, Indiana/Clinton Central) led three Knights in double figures with a game-high 26 points and had a game-high six rebounds. He also handed out two assists and had two steals.

 

Sophomore Tyler Kleinschmidt (Indianapolis/Bishop Chatard) had 14 points and three assists while sophomore Anthony Furlin (Fishers, Indiana/Hamilton Southeastern) added 10 points for the Knights.

 

The Knights hit the road for another clash with an NAIA Division II Top 25 team in Grace College on Tuesday night. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Orthopaedic Capital Center. You can hear the game LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics by clicking the LISTEN LIVE link on the left.