Marian Races Past RV Huntington for Fourth-Consecutive CL Win

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian men's basketball team continued their season-long Crossroads League winning streak on Friday afternoon, blowing out (RV) Huntington 82-55 in the PE Center. Marian's landslide win improves them to 18-6 overall, as their fourth consecutive win gives them a record of 8-6 in league games.

Gus Etchison started the game out with a splash, opening the contest with an open three point make, while vaulting his total to five points in the first minute as he answered a Lane Sparks layup with one of his own. Jackson Ames and Maximus Gizzi pushed Marian's lead to six after three minutes of play, while another score from Etchison gave Marian a 12-8 lead at the first media timeout. Huntington would chop away at Marian's lead and tied the game at 14 with a 6-0 run, but the scoring was halted as Dylan Moles and Gizzi reclaimed the lead for Marian.

The freshman's score ignited a 6-0 run for the Knights, and after a make from Rowen Farrell, Marian carried a 22-16 lead. Over the final 10 minutes of the first half Marian would continue to control the tempo, pushing in front by double figures for the first time on a three-point make from Brody Whitaker. Huntington would come within five points before the half's end, but Marian was able to withstand the pressure, keeping the Foresters off the scoreboard for the final 5:22 of the half, ending on a 10-0 run. Marian would go into the half on top 37-22 after getting a buzzer-beating three from Etchison.

Huntington would test Marian on multiple occasions in the first 10 minutes of the second half, as turnovers and missed shots would prompt a quick timeout by the Knights bench. Marian regrouped after the break and were able to move the lead to 17 points, but another counter from the visitors saw the margin drop to 11 just moments after the media timeout.

The Knights would begin to attack inside to negate Huntington's momentum, getting a three-point plays from Whitaker, Etchison, and Gizzi to control the momentum. Marian expanded their 44-33 lead at the 13:42 mark to a 57-36 score in a matter of three minutes, as the 13-3 run drove the lead to 21 points. Huntington would challenge again after the under-10 media timeout and cut the lead to 10 points, as the score melted to a 58-48 game.

After getting a stop, a dunk from Ames and layups by Whitaker and Gizzi put the Knights back in control for good, with Marian leading 67-49 with 5:52 to play, as Huntington was forced to call a timeout. The stoppage would do little to slow down Marian, as they confidently finished the game, pushing their lead to 24 points after the final media stoppage. The Knights would lead by as many as 28 points in the final five minutes as they controlled the final moments of the game, closing their win on top 82-55.

Marian's intense defense forced Huntington to a low 31 percent shooting day, while the Knights shot 46 percent on their offensive end. Etchison finished the game with 22 points, while Gizzi scored 19 points and added six rebounds. Whitaker scored 18 points in the win, and Jackson Ames ended with an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double. Rowen Farrell finished the game with a bench-leading five points.

Marian will face another test in their next game, as they travel to No. 18 Bethel University. The Valentine's Day tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.