ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College men's basketball team is off to its best start (3-0) since the 2004-05 season (4-0) with its second consecutive win over Siena Heights University on Tuesday. The Bulldogs beat their crosstown rival in back-to-back tries for the first time since 2004 and in the process held the Saints to their lowest point total in series history (34 meetings). The Saints scored 48 points in a win over Adrian back in 2009.
The Bulldog defense was stifling all game as the Saints managed to shoot just 25 percent (14-of-56) for the game. SHU made just six field goals in the second half and scored 20 points in each segment. Adrian finished the contest shooting 21-of-62 (33.9 percent) and were 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc. Adrian went 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) from the line and outboarded the Saints, 53-34, including 19 offensive boards and 14 second-chance points.
It took 2:48 before Adrian got the game's first points off a jumper by Adam Meier. The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire starting the game on an 11-3 run after another Meier bucket at the 12:29 mark followed by a Siena Heights timeout. Adrian did not allow double figures until 10:03 left in the first half on an Eric Cogan basket making it 14-10.
Siena Heights got within two, but Adrian increased their advantage to 25-15 on a triple by Drew Torey with 1:58 left until intermission. Adrian led 27-20 at halftime, but allowed SHU to cut the lead to 28-24 in the first 1:17 of the second half. Adrian responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back up to 34-24 after a layup by reigning MIAA Player of the Week Eric Lewis.
The Bulldogs then just pushed on the gas and increased their lead to 50-30 on a 16-6 run over a 5:53 period which saw senior Cody Barnes score 11 points during the stretch. The Saints scored just 10 points in the final 11:23 of the game as Adrian led by as many as 26 points with 2:02 left in the contest after a Ben Rodak layup.
Barnes led three Bulldogs in double figures with 21 points. He was 6-of-14 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the line in 34 minutes. Lewis scored 14 points and was also 6-of-14 from the floor. He also recorded his second career double-double with 10 rebounds. Meier netted 11 points and grabbed nine boards including five on the offensive end in 29 minutes.