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Cougars let 5-point halftime lead slip away in 'Senior Day' setback

Sat., Feb. 19, 2005

    FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Taylor University used an 11-1 surge midway through the second half to ruin the mood of the University of Saint Francis 'Senior Day' festivities for a 69-58 win at Hutzell Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
   And the two teams only have to wait three days to tangle again. USF is the No. 7 seed in the Mid-Central Conference Tournament and will play at Taylor, the No. 2 seed, in Upland on Wed., Feb. 23. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Odle Gymnasium. TU ended USF's season in 2004 in the MCC Tournament championship, 71-60.
   It was the last regular season home game for the Cougars (14-16, 7-9 in Mid-Central Conference) and the end of the regular season for both teams. It was the final regular season home game for three USF seniors -- John Gensic, Chase Holden, and Nick Ankenbruck. USF led 35-30 at halftime, and still led 40-37 after Holden dropped in a jumper with 15:15 to play.
   Travis Johnson ignited the TU (21-9, 12-4 MCC) surge when he got a rebound and put it back in pulling the Trojans to within 40-39. Eric Ford put TU in front for good 42-40 when he nailed a 3-pointer with 12:22 to play.
   Dusty Beucler dulled the TU run with a 3-point basket at the 10:15 mark cutting the USF deficit to 48-44. With 8:03 to play, Trey Eaton missed the first free throw, then made the second pulling USF with 1, 50-49, with 8:03 to play, but the Cougars got no closer. The Cougars stayed within striking distance, but got no closer than 3, 57-54, with 5:02 to play on a Trey Eaton free throw.
  Shooting 23 percent on 6-for-26 hurt the Cougars' second-half cause against a relentless Trojans' man-to-man defense. Taylor, rated No. 16 in the most recent NAIA Div. II Top 25, did burn the nets either, hitting just 9-of-24 shots for 38 percent. But TU hit 18-of-22 free throws in the second half outscoring USF by nine from the free-throw line.
   Senior Chase Holden led USF scoring with 18 points, but he managed just five in the second half. Trey Eaton added 12 points.
   TU swept the season series, the second time in the last three seasons. TU had four players in double figures -- Ford with 18, Kevin Wright 13, Johnson 11 and Michael Parsons 11. TU out rebounded USF 35-26, 26-12 in the second half.
   USF finishes in a four-way tie for fifth in the MCC. The Cougars will travel to Goshen, the MCC Tournament No. 3 seed, for a 7 p.m. contest on Wed., Feb. 23. The game will be broadcast on WLYV Victory 1450 AM starting at 6:45 p.m. with Joe Parson bringing USF fans all the play-by-play.
   The TU win secures a tie for the MCC title, but Huntington gets the No. 1 seed.

   Following is the complete 2005 MCC Tournament first-round pairings:
#8 Bethel @ #1 Huntington, 7 p.m.
#5 Grace @ #4 Marian, 7 p.m.
#6 Spring Arbor @ #3 Goshen, 7 p.m.
#7 USF @ #2 Taylor, 7 p.m.
Semifinal Round -- Sat., Feb. 26, 3 p.m.
#8 Bethel-#1 Huntington vs. #5 Grace @ #4 Marian -- @ highest seed remaining
#7 SAU @ #3 Goshen vs. #7 USF @ #2 Taylor -- @ highest seed remaining
2005 MCC Tournament Championship -- 7 p.m.
#8 Bethel-#1 Huntington vs. #5 Grace @ #4 Marian winner vs.
#6 SAU @ #3 Goshen vs. #7 USF @ #2 Taylor winner -- @ highest seed remaining

                                                      -- GO USF --

 
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