Marauders Pull Away in Second Half for 86-73 Victory Over Lane College

In an exciting Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) showdown.  The Central State Marauders rallied in the second half to secure an 86-73 victory over the Lane College Dragons. Despite a strong first-half performance from Lane, the Marauders dominated the second 20 minutes, outscoring their opponents by 21 points and improving their record to 7-10, 4-5 in SIAC play.

Key Performances

Steven Key II was named the Le Reve Massage and Facial Player of the Game for his stellar performance, contributing 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 24 minutes of action. Key II was efficient from the free-throw line, making 8 of his 11 attempts, and his defensive effort and energy played crucial role in Central State's second-half surge.

Ramar Pryor also had a standout game, leading all scorers with 17 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 showing from the free-throw line. He added 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals to help spark the Marauders' defensive efforts.

On the bench, Brandon Scott provided a valuable contribution with 13 points, including 2 three-pointers, while Chris Grubbs added 6 points in 24 minutes. The Marauders' bench outscored Lane's reserves 39-17, highlighting the depth of the team.

Lane College's Fight

Lane College, despite the loss, put up a resilient fight, particularly in the first half. Elijah Greer Dawson was a major force, playing all 40 minutes and finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. His efforts kept the Dragons in the game as they held a 41-33 lead at the halftime break.

Christopher Hood also had a strong outing, scoring 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and Kuany Teng contributed 10 points. However, Lane struggled in the second half, where they managed just 32 points and were outpaced by Central State's improved shooting and aggressive defense.

Second Half Dominance

The game turned around in the second half when Central State found their rhythm. The Marauders shot a blistering 65.2% from the field in the final 20 minutes, compared to Lane's 37.5%. Central State also took advantage of their free-throw opportunities, hitting 20 of 23 attempts (86.9%), while Lane could only convert 12 of 19 (63.2%).

Central State's defense was a key factor in their second-half dominance, as they forced 18 turnovers from Lane, converting those into 30 points off turnovers. The Marauders also capitalized on their fast break opportunities, scoring 15 fast break points compared to just 11 for Lane.

Team Stats

Central State finished the game with a field goal percentage of 49.1% (27-55), including 33.3% (7-21) from beyond the arc. Lane shot 40% overall (22-55) but struggled from three-point range, making just 3 of 8 attempts. Central State also controlled the paint, outscoring Lane 40-30 in that category.

Rebounding was another area where the Marauders held an edge, grabbing 35 total boards compared to Lane's 33. However, Lane was able to pull down 9 offensive rebounds, which helped keep them in the game for a while.

Looking Ahead

The victory is a much-needed boost for Central State, who has struggled to find consistency this season. The Marauders will look to build on this win as they continue their SIAC campaign, hoping to improve their standings and position themselves for a potential postseason berth.

The Marauders are back in action on Monday vs Miles in Beacom Lewis Gymnasium at 7:30pm.  

Story by: Brad Kocher