Stout defensive effort moves Morningside to 4-0

ATCHISON, KAN. – Four games of the 2019-20 season … four opponents limited to 65 points or less.

The latest installation of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 4-ranked Morningside College's lockdown defense occurred on the final day of Benedictine University of Kansas Classic Saturday, Nov. 9. Head coach Jim Sykes' team, moving to 4-0, turned in five steals among 17 Missouri Valley College turnovers, blocked two Viking shot attempts and cleaned the glass at a near two-to-one rate (43-28) as part of a 75-58 victory.

Senior forward/center Tyler Borchers (SR/Le Mars, IA ) (LeMars, Iowa), after being held to single-digit scoring the night previous, responded, doing everything but vending the popcorn at BU's Ralph Nolan Gymnasium with a stat line of 18 points, eight rebounds, both blocked shots, a steal, and an assist. Another senior post player was just as tough on the opposition, as forward Ben Hoskins (SR/Wayne, NE ) (Wayne, Neb.) scored 16 points and grabbing six rebounds to spotlight an afternoon in which he canned four three-point buckets in seven attempts. Alex Borchers (SR/South Sioux City, NE ) (South Sioux City, Neb.), another member of the Class of 2020, finished with 11 points. A fourth senior, forward Matt Hahn (SR/Fremont, NE ) (Fremont, Neb.), didn't place himself in scoring double figures but was extremely valuable dishing off nine assists and picking up three steals.

Morningside opens its home and Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule Saturday, Nov. 16. It's a top 25 clash, as Dordt University comes to Allee Gymnasium and Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center for a 4 p.m. tip-off.