Quakers fall in defensive battle

Stirling and Short score in double figures

[BOX SCORE]

January 26, 2005

WILMINGTON, Ohio — Defense reigned supreme in Fred Raizk Arena on Wednesday evening, as the Quakers and Muskies of Muskingum College combined for just 27 first-half points and 96 total in a 51-45 Muskingum victory.

Eric Stirling (Brooklyn, NY/LaSalle Academy) led the way for the Quakers with 15 points while Deon Short (Cincinnati/Mt. Healthy) scored 13 in the losing effort.

The Quakers never led in the game, as Muskingum scored the first four points of the game. The Quakers tied the game at four before the Muskies used a 5-1 run over the next nine minutes, as the visitors held a 9-5 lead with 6:13 to play in the half. After the Quakers closed the deficit to two at 9-7, the Muskies opened an 8-0 run to take the lead to double digits at 17-7. Each team added two more points before halftime, as Muskingum took a 10-point, 19-9 lead into the locker room.

The Quakers shot a miserable 12 percent (3-of-25) in the first half, hitting none of their dozen three-point attempts, while Muskingum converted on just 33.3 percent (7-of-21) and 2-of-11 three-point baskets.

The hosts started the second half strong, scoring the first four points of the period, cutting the deficit to four before he Muskies used another run to give them a 12-point lead, their largest of the game with 10:58 to play in the game. The Quakers chipped away at the deficit, using a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to close to within two, but that would be as close as they would come, as the Muskies converted on all six free throw attempts in the final minute of the game, sealing the win for the visitors.

Stirling and Short led the way with 15 and 13 points while Zach Broermann (Brookville, IN/Franklin County) scored eight for the Quakers. Stirling pulled down a team-high six rebounds, while David Guy (Webb City, MO/Webb City) dished out three assists.

Muskingum put just one player in double figures, as Matt Dansby scored 11 points to go with his game-high eighr rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots.

With the loss, the Quakers fall to 8-10 on the year and 4-7 in the OAC while Muskingum improves to 11-7 overall and 6-5 in league action.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, January 29 when the team travels to Alliance, Ohio to take on the Purple Raiders of Mount Union College with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.