TU Uses Second-Half Surge to Blow Past RV West Virginia Tech
Â
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taylor used a red-hot second-half shooting performance to turn a competitive affair into a laugher on Saturday, shooting 16-of-18 from inside the arc during the second half of a 90-65 blowout of RV West Virginia Tech (2-4) in the Saint Francis Tournament.
It was a back-and-forth tilt in the first half, with Taylor trying to open it up on numerous occasions, only to see the Golden Bears battle back and the two sides took a 38-38 score to the break.
A bucket from West Virginia Tech to start the second half would be the last deficit TU would face, as the Trojans took control with a 24-4 stretch that flipped the 40-38 WVT lead into a commanding 62-44 cushion for the Purple and Gold by the 12:30 mark. Mason Degenkolb and Jason Hubbard fueled the game-changing rally, combining for 18-of-24 points for TU in the run.
It was all Taylor from there, as the Trojan lead swelled to as many as 27 points deep into the contest, before settling at the final spread of 90-65.
TU shot a blistering 66.0 percent from the field in the game, including the 16-of-18 mark from inside the arc over the final 20 minutes. Taylor also shot the ball well from deep, going nine-of-19 for a 47.4-percent rate.
The Trojans controlled play in the post once again, piling up 44 points in the paint and holding a 10-rebound advantage.
Degenkolb and Hubbard led the charge, with Degenkolb closing with 22 points and Hubbard scoring 20 points on seven-of-eight shooting, while pulling down 12 rebounds for his second-straight double-double and third-straight double-digit rebound effort.
Ryan Robinson also had the hot hand, shredding the Golden Bear defense for eight makes in 10 attempts for 17 points and CJ Penha added 12 points and seven boards. Vincent Miranda reached double figures once again with 11 points and two steals, while Jeff Clayton posted a career-high with eight points.
Taylor finished the Saint Francis Tournament with a plus-31.5 scoring edge in the two victories, shooting 64.3 percent as a team and holding a plus-15.0 rebounding advantage per game. Hubbard highlighted the two blowout wins with 21.5 points and 11.0 boards per game, while sinking 14-of-17 field goal attempts.
The Trojans (4-2) will look to extend their win streak with a 7:00 pm game at Concordia (2-3) on Tuesday, November 18.