Upset Bid at Madonna Falls Short for Men’s Basketball

LIVONIA, Mich. — Down six at the half (47-41), the Marygrove men’s basketball team came back in the second half to take a seven-point lead on two occasions before faltering late to a tough Madonna University (16-6; 12-2 WHAC) squad by an 86-77 final. The Mustangs (2-20; 1-13 WHAC) were looking for their second upset of Madonna in as many years, but fell short due to a difficult day at the free throw line after shooting 9-of-21 compared to the Crusaders’ 27-of-36 performance.

Darryll Dixon (Flint, Mich./Hamady) paced an otherwise efficient Mustang effort by posting a career-high tying 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting. The junior guard shot 5-of-11 from three-point range and added eight rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes of action. Dixon’s 29 points was a game-high as the 6-foot-1 guard was a one-man show in the early stages of the second half to bring the Mustangs back.

Diante Taylor (Battle Creek, Mich./Central) followed Dixon with 14 points to continue his torrid scoring streak. With the 14-point effort, Taylor moves to within a game of tying Marygrove’s consecutive double-digit scoring games streak of 36 set by former Mustang Dennis Foster.

DeVonte Pryor (Pontiac, Mich./West Texas A&M) played well in his second game of the season after tallying six points, six assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 29 minutes. JuJuan Armstrong (Detroit, Mich./UM-Dearborn) added eight points and five rebounds in the near upset of Madonna.

As a team, the Mustangs shot an even 50% (31-of-62) from the field while holding the host Crusaders to 44% shooting (27-of-61).

The Crusaders were led by reigning WHAC Player of the Year Bobby Naubert with 28 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Travis Schuba added 16 – including a huge three-pointer late to put the Mustangs away.

The Mustangs will remain on the road for a Wednesday (Jan. 29) night WHAC contest at Aquinas College. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. in Grand Rapids. Wednesday’s game will feature live stats and live audio made available by Aquinas.

Follow men’s basketball on twitter: @MGroveMBBALL

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