Indiana Wesleyan MBB blast rival Taylor 92-63
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MARION, Ind. – CJ Penha returned from injury with a team-leading 17 points on Saturday, but a disasterous final 14:30 of game action for the Trojans turned an upset-bid into a blowout loss at second-ranked Indiana Wesleyan.
Penha showed little signs of rust after missing the previous seven games due to injury and poured in 17 points off the bench. Six of those points came early in the second half, sparking a 13-2 spurt from TU that pushed the Trojans to the lead.
The sophomore ignited the run with a three-ball and moments later followed a pair of Mason Degenkolb free throws with five-straight points to bring Taylor within one. Ryan Robinson then found a trailing Vincent Miranda for a transition triple that gave TU a 53-51 lead with 14:43 showing on the clock.
Taylor could not complete its bid for a third win over a Top-25 foe in its last five games however, as the Wildcats (17-3, 7-1 CL) retook the lead with a three on the next possession and closed the game on a 41-10 blitz to score the 92-63 win.
Taylor shot only 29.6 percent in the second half and committed 12 turnovers with only eight made field goals over the final 20 minutes. TU had no answer on the defensive end, being outscored 28-4 in the paint over the final period.
Penha led the Trojans with 17 points off the bench, with Miranda posting a team-best eight rebounds to go with nine points. Degenkolb netted 10 points to move into tenth on TU’s all-time scoring charts and Robinson closed with five assists.
Taylor (11-9, 3-5 CL) will close the first-half of Crossroads League play on Tuesday, when it hosts Huntington (9-11, 1-7 CL) in a 7:00 pm affair.
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Taylor Men’s Basketball All-Time Scoring Leaders at a Glance
1 – Jim Bushur (1985-88) – 2213
2 – Casey Coons (2009-13) – 2138
3 – Forrest Jackson (1950-54) – 2059
4 – Eric Ford (2002-06) – 2023
5 – David Wayne (1988-92) – 1905
6 – Chuck Taylor (1965-69) – 1897
7 – Ralph Gee (1983-87) – 1816
8 – Steve Mozingo (1990-94) – 1790
9 – Dale Miller (1987-91) – 1717
10 – Mason Degenkolb (2016-Pres) – 1693
11 – Gary Friesen (1971-75) – 1690
12 – Greg Jones (1976-79) – 1677
13 – Jay Teagle (1986-90) – 1668
14 – Ryan Robinson (2016-Pres) – 1608
15 – Doug Bell (2003-06) – 1571