Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - If the Edgewood College men's basketball team had their way, they might choose to play the rest of their games on the road. Coming off a successful three-game road trip, the Eagles faltered at home, dropping their second straight game in the Edgedome 80-75 to Marian University.

Marian University jumped on the Eagles early scoring on their first seven shots from the field to open an early 16-10 lead. Bryan Ashbeck ended the run with back-to-back three pointers. The Eagles kept pace, however, twice cutting the margin back to two points. A pair of free throws by freshman guard Ben Wisniewski made the score 22-20 in favor of the Sabres with 7:18 to play in the half. Marian had one more spurt left before the break scoring 16 of the final 20 points for a 38-24 lead at halftime. The Sabres shot 56.7 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes.

Although the lead would get as large as 15 in the second half, Edgewood College (9-9, 7-3 NAC) began to slowly reel in the Sabres. A Kent Faurote three-pointer with 1:26 left to play, trimmed the Sabres lead to 75-67. Wisniewski followed with a bucket and John Schuster sunk a pair of free throws to get the Eagles within four points. The Sabres helped keep the Eagles in the game, hitting just three of eight free throw attempts in the last minute of the game, but Edgewood College failed to convert on three straight possessions.

Listen and watch Head Coach Todd Adrian's postgame comments

Overshadowed in the loss was a career-high performance from Wisniewski who scored 29 points, going 8-for-13 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Faurote was the only other Eagle in double figures with 15 points and seven rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Senior center Jon Ciche pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in the losing effort. The Eagles had free throw problems of their own going 22-for-34 (64.7 percent), including 10 misses in the second half.

Marian University (6-12, 3-7 NAC) now owns wins over both current division leaders in the NAC having beaten South Division frontrunner MSOE early in the season. The Sabres were led by Ashbeck who scored 21 points, smashing his season average of 6.6 coming into the game. Three other Sabres, Logan Rankin, Wayne Franklin and Colin Lohenry reached double figures as well.

Edgewood College will need to find the answer for winning at home quickly as NAC South leader MSOE comes to the Edgedome on Saturday. Saturday's game is part of the Edgewood College's annual “Jam the Gym” celebration honoring Eagle basketball alumni. Tipoff for the men's game is at approximately 4:15 p.m. following the women's game.