MUS Sports News

Late Run Sparks Road Win

In its first true road game of the season, the varsity basketball team used a 15-0 run at the end of the contest to improve its record to 10-4 with the 58-42 win over the Brighton Cardinals.

Though the Owls had the lead the entire game, Brighton just hung around and finally closed the gap in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals were down 40-27 late in the third quarter when they began to get close, using a 15-3 run to cut the MUS advantage to a single point with about 5 minutes to play.

However, Philip Reed stopped the Cardinals as he hit a jumper from the top of the key, and that basket sparked the 15-0 game-ending run to secure the victory.

MUS placed four players in double figures as Ryan Baum contributed 14 points, Derek Clenin 12, and John Phillips and Reed each 11.

The Owls return home this Friday as perennial power Bartlett comes to the Ross M. Lynn Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30PM.

Basketball Drops Two in New Year

The varsity basketball team did not get off to a good start in 2003, losing two home games this past weekend to drop their record to 9-4.

Last Friday night Lausanne came into the Ross M. Lynn Arena and thoroughly handled the Owls, beating them 68-46.

MUS never found a way to slow the Lynx down as they seemed a step slow to whatever Lausanne did. Carlos Taylor led the Lynx with 21 points and 9 assists, while Marc Gasol added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Lausanne shot 72.7% from the field in the first half and finished 55.6% for the game. They doubled the Owls at the half, 38-19, and MUS never could muster a run. Clay Chapman and John Phillips led the Owls with 10 points each, but their contributions were not enough as the Lynx beat MUS for the third consecutive time.

The Owls had an opportunity the next evening to put Friday's loss behind them as Germantown came to MUS.

MUS found themselves in a great position in the final minutes, taking a 46-43 lead after trailing at the break by 4 points. However, the Red Devils went on a 6-0 run, fueled by 4 straight Owl turnovers, to take a lead that they never relinquished. Though MUS played somewhat better in this game, their failure to put the game away led to the 53-48 loss.

Ryan Baum paced the Owls with 20 points and 7 rebounds, while Andrew Hanover added 9 points. But 14 MUS turnovers, many in critical situations, were significant in the loss. Germantown improved to 10-3, while MUS fell to 9-4.

The Owls play their first true road game of the year as they travel to Brighton this Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30PM.

Owls Take Two in Carbondale

While most were opening presents, visiting with family and friends, and celebrating Christmas Day, the varsity basketball team was on the MUS bus, traveling north to Carbondale, Illinois, to participate in the 39th annual Carbondale Holiday Tournament, a yearly tradition for the Owls. As the tourney concluded on the 28th, MUS got a late Christmas present, taking two of three games to finish third in the Class A bracket.

The Owls opened their tournament slate against the Johnston City (IL) Indians, a team on a four-game winning streak at the time that had defeated them last season. However, MUS cooled the Indians down quickly, hitting 5 of 7 three-pointers in the first half to grab a double-digit lead that they never relinquished.

Ryan Baum led MUS with 25 points as he hit 9 of 15 field goals. Andrew Hanover also had an outstanding game, tallying 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Owls shot 52% for the game and hit an amazing 62.5% from three-point range to take the 67-48 win and advance in the tournament.

The next afternoon at the Southern Illinois University Arena, MUS tackled the DuQuoin (IL) Indians, a favorite in Illinois to challenge for a state title. DuQuoin was not friendly on this afternoon as they jumped out to an early lead, led by 14 at the break, and never let the Owls make a run. Even with DuQuoin star Nick Hill, a Western Kentucky signee, slowed with the flu, the Indians took care of the ball and were very efficient.

Clay Chapman tried to keep MUS in the game, contributing 13 points and 9 rebounds, but Ricky Oakley's 18 points, all from three-pointers, was enough to stymie the Owls as they lost 56-37 and move them to the consolation bracket.

But MUS refused to quit after the loss in the third-place game.

Playing against last season's Illinois state runner-up, the Herrin Tigers, the Owls were not intimidated. Both teams played much zone, hoping to force poor outside shots, but neither squad had off days. The zones slowed the pace of the game, but with both teams shooting above 50% from the field throughout, the game was exciting.

Herrin took a slim 4-point lead into the break, but Baum got hot in the second half. He finished with 23 points, hitting 4 of 6 threes, and added three rebounds. MUS also tallied 18 total assists with their 21 field goals, showing that they had good ball movement throughout. The Owls also made all 5 of their second-half free throws and only missed 3 shots in the second half, shooting an incredible 78.6% from the field after the break and 65.6% for the game to take the 59-49 victory and third-place in the Class A bracket. With the win MUS improved to 9-2.

The Owls have two more games, both at home, before the holiday break is over. They battle Lausanne Friday night and Germantown on Saturday. Both games tip at 7:30PM at MUS.