Defensive Excellence Fuels Victory Over Spring Arbor

Broadcast Highlights

UPLAND, Ind. – The Trojans held the Cougars to 20 first-half points and 57 for the game, 20 below their season average, which fueled a Crossroads League victory, 72-57, on Saturday afternoon. 

Tayor's defense held the Cougars below 28 percent from the field in the first half and did not allow a three-pointer throughout the entire game while forcing 11 turnovers in a terrific display. 

Offensively, the Jackson two, Jackson Lewis and Jackson Ullom combined for 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds with only three turnovers. Lewis was efficient from the arc, splashing home four triples, while Ullom provided great defense, along with his 11 points, netting a career-high three blocks in the contest. 

While the backcourt duo was outstanding, the frontcourt saw both Anton Webb and Caleb Hodgson notch double-doubles. Hodgson matched Lewis with four makes from beyond the arc to go with his 11 rebounds. Webb had 11 boards as well to go with 10 points down low. 

A slow start to the game saw Spring Arbor build a five-point lead after six-and-a-half minutes. Three-pointers from Hodgson and Lewis on back-to-back possessions gave TU the lead, and after the Cougars briefly took it back, a 6-0 run fueled by two buckets and a steal from Izaiah Day gave the Trojans the lead for good. 

The game was close for the next three minutes before Taylor began a 15-0 run, in which Lewis scored eight and provided an assist and a rebound stretched the lead to 36-18. The Cougars made a layup before the teams headed to the locker room, with TU holding a comfortable 36-20 lead.

The Trojans kept the Cougars at arm's length and eventually pushed the lead to 54-32, the largest of the game, on a bucket from Wes Hunt, who put up eight points, three boards, and two blocks in a solid game off the bench. 

Spring Arbor (9-6, 2-3 CL) never got closer than 12 the rest of the way despite a full-court press, and Taylor secured its first Crossroads League victory of the season. 

Kaden Fuhrmann and Grant Niehaus scored four a piece, but both recorded at least one rebound, assist, steal, and block in terrific all-around games. 

Taylor (6-9, 1-4 CL) will look to build momentum when they take on cross-county rivals No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan (13-2, 4-1 CL) on Wednesday, January 10, inside Odle Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 pm. 

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