Chargers split with Montcalm, Danville
DONALDSON — The Marian University Ancilla Men’s Basketball team has gone through the gauntlet of opponents early this season, taking on mostly ranked teams throughout their first ten games.
Last week, however, they faced an unranked but solid Montcalm squad on Wednesday, picking up their first win of the season, 79-76 in a nail-biter.
Saturday, however, it was back to the elite, facing an impressive Danville Area Jaguars squad who took control early and won 122-86, dropping the Chargers to 1-9 early this year.
MUAC vs. Montcalm (W 79-76): This matchup was close nearly the entire way. MUAC led 39-37 at the half, then had to hold off a late Montcalm rally to win 79-76. Freshmen guards Shawn Donaldson (22 points) and Omari Evans (20 points) came up big offensively, as they were 16-28 from the field and 6-13 from downtown on the evening. Fellow Freshman guard Cristian Webster was key off the bench, also scoring in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore Michael Johnson Jr. and Freshman A’Marien Page were the top rebounders with 8 and 7, respectively.
MUAC vs. Danville Area (L 122-86): The Chargers came out with a ton of energy and actually led this one 9-2 early, before the Jaguars rallied and took a 59-39 advantage into the locker room at the break. The second half was more of the same, as Danville used their supreme size & length advantage to win the rebounding battle 48-19. Scoring a season-high 86 points, the Chargers did place five players in double digits in the scoring column. Freshman wing Kayden English topped all scorers in the game with 20 points. Freshman guard Omari Evans (15 points), Sophomore guard Kenneth Grant (14 points), Freshman guard Cristian Webster (13 points), and Freshman guard Shawn Donaldson (10 points) all followed suit. English grabbed 6 rebounds to lead the team, while Evans handed out 4 assists on the afternoon.
The Chargers are back in action this weekend when they head to Chicago for a Friday/Saturday back-to-back at Wilbur Wright College and Malcolm X College. They are part of a women’s/men’s double-header, with tip times being at approximately 7 p.m., and 3 p.m., local time, but following the conclusion of the women’s games.
