FORT
WAYNE, Ind. -- First, the
good news. Nate
Bojrab was back on the floor for the University of Saint
Francis and scored 13 points off the bench, second to only
Mike Steinau who finished with a team-leading 14.
Now, the bad news.
Despite Bojrab's early
return after appearing to be lost for two weeks when he
sustained an ankle injury last Wednesday at Grace, it wasn't
enough against new NAIA Top 25 member Taylor University. The
No. 22 Trojans led 25-22 at halftime time and outscored USF
6-4 from 3-point range and 11-9 from the free-throw line to
pull away for a 61-49 win at Hutzell Athletic Center.
USF
(10-8, 1-4 MCC) kept it close through the first 5:30 of the
second half, but TU (15-4, 4-1 MCC) 12-6 over a span of
about seven minutes. Kyle Pickett's rebound basket off a
Chad Reynolds miss put TU up 44-36 with 8:51 to play. USF
carved the
difference
to five, 46-41 on two Bojrab free throws with 6:30 to play,
but that was as close as the Cougars got against the
patient, ball control Trojans.
The Cougars led by as
many as five points in the first half at 21-16 after a Matt
Edmonds jumper with 6:06 to play. USF had several
possessions with a chance to build its lead, but couldn't
capitalize and TU outscored USF 9-1 to lead by three at
halftime. USF outshot TU 53 percent on 9-of-17 shooting to
39 percent on 9-for-23 shooting. But TU hit four 3-pointers,
USF two, and the Trojans were 3-for-4 from the free-throw
line, USF 2-for-6.
USF resumes MCC play
on Saturday at Marian in Indianapolis. The game will be
broadcast on WGL 1250 AM starting at 2:50 p.m.
Photos:
Top: Mike Steinau grabbed a rebound and got fouled
trying to score in the second half.
Mid-Left: Nate Bojrab nailed this second-half 3-pointer
Bottom Right: Eric Eaton (52) attempts to draw a charge
in the first half against TU's Chad Reynolds, but Reynolds
scored and no foul was whistled.
Box Score
