Southern Indiana boxscore in PDF
Evansville, Ind. - The Maryville men's basketball team used an 11-0 run late in the second half to record an 89-80 victory at Southern Indiana Thursday evening. After USI had won the first eight meetings in the series, the Saints have won two straight, with both victories occurring in Evansville, Ind.
The Saints grabbed the early lead when Marvin Grant-Clark nailed a 3-pointer and a jumper for a 5-2 lead. The Screaming Eagles sank a jumper before Max Mischkulnig hit two free throws. Later, the Saints took a 9-6 edge after another bucket by Grant-Clark. After a USI score, Saikou Jallow and Karson King sank consecutive jumpers as the Saints surged to a 14-8 advantage.
The teams traded the lead six times before two free throws by Jallow and a triple by Forrester Sims pushed the Saints ahead 28-25. The Screaming Eagles used a 7-2 run and went up 32-30. Grant-Clark tied the game with a jumper, and Mischkulnig scored inside for a 34-32 Maryville lead. Grant-Clark then drilled a 3-pointer. USI scored inside but Grant Sims splashed a 3-pointer in the final minute as the Saints grabbed a 40-35 lead at halftime.
The Screaming Eagles chipped away at the Maryville lead and tied the game at 47-47 four minutes into the second half. Jallow scored inside and Mischkulnig's layup built a 51-47 edge for the Saints. Maryville still led 53-49 after a Jeff Leeson layup with about 14 minutes to play before USI tallied eight straight to jump ahead 57-53. Grant Sims scored to break the drought for the Saints, and a Grant-Clark jumper tied the game at 57-57 with 11:01 to play in the game.
After two free throws by Southern Indiana, Forrester Sims had a layup, and Grant Sims sank two at the line. A triple by Leeson and a Grant Sims layup pushed the Saints to a 66-59 advantage with 7:46 to play. After USI was assessed a technical, Grant-Clark sank two free throws as the Saints run reached 11 straight for a 68-59 lead at the 7:39 mark.
The Screaming Eagles scored five straight points until Grant-Clark knocked down a jumper to start an 8-0 run. Mischkulnig scored inside, Forrester Sims nailed a jumper and King converted a layup for a 76-64 lead with just over four minutes to play. After the teams traded baskets, USI trimmed the Maryville lead down to 78-73 with 2:21 left. Grant-Clark and Mischkulnig scored on consecutive trips as the Saints steadied themselves with an 82-73 lead with 1:46 remaining. Jallow knocked down two free throws with 1:18 to play for a nine-point lead, 85-76. King sandwiched baskets around a USI score for an 89-80 lead with 39 seconds left as the Saints held on for the win.
Grant-Clark hit 8-of-13 shots from the field to top the Saints with 20 points. Leeson made three 3-pointers and converted 6-of-7 field goal attempts to finish with 15 points. Jallow recorded 14 points, King added 12 and Mischkulnig ended with 10 points. The Saints shot 57.4 percent from the field (35-of-61), 61.5 percent from 3-point range (8-of-13) and 91.7 percent at the line (11-of-12). Jeril Taylor led Southern Indiana with 24 points as the Screaming Eagles slip to 15-8 overall, 7-6 in the GLVC.
The Saints improve to 9-15 overall and 3-11 in the GLVC. Maryville is back on the court Saturday in Louisville as the Saints face No. 13 Bellarmine.
