Mishawaka, Ind. - The Marian men's basketball team closed Wednesday night with the longest active winning streak in the Crossroads League, as the Knights took control in the second half in their 82-74 victory over No. 22 Bethel. Marian's fifth consecutive win gives the team a 19-6 overall record, while the Knights take sole possession of fourth place in the Crossroads League with a 9-6 record.
Brody Whitaker came out aggressive early and led Marian in a back and forth paced first half, scoring the first points of the game and six of the first eight for the Knights. Marian and Bethel were level 10-10 at the first media timeout of the game, with the Pilots beginning to grab control of the pace as a 6-2 run pushed them in the lead. An early scoring lull held the score at 16-12 for nearly two minutes, but Whitaker broke the silence with a three-point play on the front end of the second media stoppage, giving him nine early points.
Gus Etchison soon took over for the Knights after Whitaker's hot start, as layups by the junior guard surrounded by a Josh Bryan three-point make kept the pace and Marian within a point of the Pilots. Marian reclaimed a lead of 30-28 with 6:24 to play in the half behind another Etchison basket, as the first-year Knight continued to elevate his play. Bethel would rock the lead back and forth in the final five minutes, leading by as many as four points, but were unable to cool off Marian before the half as a three by Etchison and jumper from Whitaker brought Marian within one at the intermission, trailing 43-42.
The second half would open with a short run from each team, as Marian dropped four quick points to reclaim the lead before a 6-0 burst by the Pilots recaptured the home advantage. Dylan Moles and Maximus Gizzi would get the Knights back within a point as the pair of backcourt players silenced the run, and after the under-15 media timeout a split trip at the line by Whitaker tied the game at 51. Whitaker's free throw would score the first point after a drought of over two minutes for both teams, and reignited the scoring options as an Etchison drive pushed Marian on top by two.
Bethel would push to an even 53-53 contest with 13:07 to play in the contest, but would get no closer than two points of Marian as an open three from Josh Bryan tipped off a 9-4 run over the next two minutes. Another run, this time of seven points saw Marian expand their lead to 11 points moments after the under-10 minute media timeout, as Bryan's third trifecta and a putback score by Jackson Ames helped capture the 69-58 lead.
Marian's lead would grow to as many as 12 points as the clock dwindled under eight minutes to play in the game, as their defense contained the Bethel sharp-shooters. Bethel would come no closer than two possessions of Marian's lead, as they clawed to a four-point game with 2:21 to play, but were unable to get any closer as Etchison and Ames iced the game with back to back makes. Bethel would muster just two points in the final 2:21 of the game, as Marian ended the game on a 6-2 job to close their 19th win on top 82-74.
Etchison finished the night with a game-high 36 points, putting together his fifth game of the season with 30 or more points. The guard added five rebounds and was followed in scoring by Whitaker's 14 points. Jackson Ames finished 11 points as he and Whitaker tied for a team-leading seven rebounds, and Gizzi added 10 points in the win. Josh Bryan scored a bench leading nine points, making three of the team's five shots from beyond the arc in the game.
Marian will look to extend their winning streak on Saturday afternoon, as the Knights host St. Francis at 3:00 p.m. in the PE Center.
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