Big Men Influence - Inside game guides Mustangs

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – A nip-and-tuck battle between two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' perennial Division II national tourney contenders went down to the final seconds Friday, Nov. 1.

No. 23-ranked Indiana Tech made a run at head coach Jim Sykes' No. 4-ranked Mustangs down the stretch, leading by as much as five with less than seven minutes to go. However, as was the case when needed throughout the evening, junior center Trey Brown (JR/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) stepped forward. His lay-up shut off an 8-0 Tech rally that gave them their largest advantage and started a seven-point comeback that Mside didn't relinquish. Brown's influence didn't end there, as he shook off a missed free throw with seven seconds left and calmly sank the second attempt for a 59-58 lead. Tech attempted a winning three-pointer but the long-range shot missed iron and bounded away, sealing Morningside's third straight season-opening contest victory.

Brown turned in a team-high 11 points to go with five rebounds and a blocked shot. Fellow paint patroller, Jacob Fierst (FR/West Allis, WI), a freshman from West Allis, Wis., added to the bench highlights with nine points and a blocked shot. Junior guard Zach Imig (JR/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) and senior forward/center Tyler Borchers (SR/Le Mars, IA ) (LeMars, Iowa) were next in line with eight points apiece. Imig also registered four assists and two steals.

Early on, Sykes squad appeared on the verge of overwhelming their opponents out of the gate in the first game of the Cornerstone University Classic, scoring 11 of the first 17 points only five minutes in. That margin increased to eight with just over 12 minutes to play in the first half, but Mside couldn't manage to shake Indiana Tech.

The Mustangs continue their rugged non-conference slate Saturday, Nov. 2, when they take on tourney host Cornerstone University. Tip-off against the No. 12 Golden Eagles is 2 p.m. Central Standard Time.