INDIANAPOLIS - Fueled by a career and record-setting night by Gus Etchison, the Marian men's basketball team powered their way to an 81-69 victory over Spring Arbor University. Marian's win snaps their three-game losing skid, as they improve to 15-6 overall and 5-6 in the Crossroads League.
Gus Etchison came out playing like a man possessed Wednesday night, dominating from the first moment the ball hit his hands, as the junior guard scored Marian's first points in the game with a pair of layups. The sharp-shooting Etchison then began to knock down shots with ease from outside, as he drained a pair of three-point field goals on two of the next three trips, vaulting Marian to a 12-4 lead. A fast break trey ball from the junior increased his total to 13 points in the first five minutes of play, with the Knights on top 15-4 at the under-15 media timeout.
After the timeout the Knights continued to look to Etchison, as he made two of his next three attempts from downtown, pushing Marian's lead to 15 points as they surged ahead 25-11. The guard caught his first breather of the game with 10:58 to play in the half, standing with 19 points, and turned the action over to Brody Whitaker and Maximus Gizzi, who held Marian in check with a 28-14 lead at the second media stoppage. Etchison would return and knocked in 10 consecutive points to the Knights total, as the Cougars defense could do little to slow down his game. Marian led 36-23 coming back to play after the under-five media timeout, and used their defense to close the half strong as the Knights out-scored Spring Arbor 10-5 over the last 4:27.
Etchison would score the half's final points with 1:54 to play before the break, ending the half with 33 points as Marian went into the locker room leading 46-28. Etchison's first half scoring mark of 33 established a new record for Marian for points in a half, while the junior drained eight three-point shots, tying the single-game record in under 20 minutes of work.
Marian came back after halftime with a pair of good three point shots from Gavin Foe, as Etchison turned into the distributor in driving the lead over 20 points. The lead would hover around 19 points for the Knights through the first five minutes of the half, but the Cougars clawed back at Marian, hanging in the game thanks to timely scores and stops on the defensive end. With 11:36 to play in the game the Marian lead had been slashed to 11 points, but a response to a Gabe Newhof score by Gizzi rebounded Marian's lead over four possessions.
Gizzi's basket made the game a 61-48 contest, where the score stood for nearly three minutes as the defenses clamped down on the scoring threats. Spring Arbor connected with a free throw to drop the margin to 12, but a 5-0 run from Etchison quickly reverted Marian's lead to 17 points, as the guard's quick outburst pushed the Knights on top 66-49. Spring Arbor would continue to pester Marian, whittling the lead down to 10 points with 102 seconds remaining in the game. A turnover would lead to another Cougar basket with the scoring showing at 72-64, but trailing by three possessions with 1:26, the Cougars were forced into fouling.
The Knights would keep their composure as the fouls were thrown their way, as Whitaker, Gizzi, and Etchison calmly sunk 9-of-10 free throws in the final 1:16 to ice the game away, with Marian winning 81-69.
Gus Etchison was the story of the game, as he re-wrote his career-high for a third time this season with a 43-point night. Etchison finished the game with Marian's single-game records for most made three pointers in a half with eight and in a game with nine, while his 33 points in the first half stood as new single half record. Etchison's 43 points for the game sets the second-most points in a single game for Marian.
Brody Whitaker came one rebound shy of a double-double as he ended the night with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Gavin Foe scored 10. Gizzi finished with eight points, and Jackson Ames led the rebounding effort with 10 in the wire-to-wire victory.
Marian will end their week hosting Taylor University, with tip for the game scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
