Trojans Survive Shooting Woes to Remain Unbeaten

Box Score

UPLAND, Ind. – The 15th-ranked Trojans made just seven field goals over the final 20 minutes of action on Friday night inside Odle Arena but managed to pull out a 76-68 win over Governors State in its lowest scoring output of the season.

TU opened on fire, turning to Evan Crowe for a pair of quick triples and a 6-0 lead that quickly ballooned to a 30-11 gap with 8:01 to play in the first stanza. The Jaguars (2-3) steadily fought back to get the deficit down to seven, before the Trojans ended the period on a 7-2 spurt to take a 46-34 cushion to the break.

Crowe, Jake Heggeland and Ryan Robinson combined for 34 of TU's 46 points in the half, sinking 12-of-21 shots, including seven-of-eight attempts from deep. Crowe was a perfect four-of-four from beyond the arc in a red-hot opening 20 minutes.

The shots stopped falling in the second half however, as Taylor went just three-of-19 over nearly the next 15 minutes of action after opening the second period with a three-ball from Keaton Hendricks to push the margin to 49-34.

The Trojans managed to maintain a double-digit spread thanks to a pair of transition buckets from Robinson and a deuce in the paint from Heggeland over the next six minutes of action, but would not connect again from the floor for the next 8:52.

The drought allowed GSU to continue its charge and the visitors drew within three points, before free throws from Crowe and Tim Fleming doubled the spread to six and another hoop in the paint from Heggeland snapped the skid and gave Taylor a 65-57 lead with 4:43 to play.

Heggeland followed by connecting on a pair of free throws, before assisting a layup from Fleming and adding another bucket to push the lead back to a comfortable nine-point margin with 2:12 remaining. The Trojans put the game away at the free throw line from there, sealing the 76-68 victory.

Taylor was just seven-of-25 from the field over the final 20 minutes, including a one-of-seven clip from three-point range and also committed nine turnovers, as the offense sputtered to put up 30 points in the half for its lowest scoring period of the season.

For the game, TU shot 37.5 percent from the field, as well as from deep and was just 67.9 percent from the charity stripe but won the battle on the glass, forced 18 turnovers and held a 19-12 edge in fast-break points and a 23-9 advantage in bench points.

Heggeland did the heavy lifting for the Purple and Gold, ending with 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while Robinson finished with 15 points and Crowe posted 13 points and seven boards. Fleming also cracked double figures with 10 points and added four assists and three steals, while Vincent Miranda pulled down a career-high six boards.

No. 15 Taylor (5-0) will remain at home to face Moody Bible (0-0) on Wednesday, in an early start time of 6:00 pm inside Odle Arena.