FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The trend of the 2012-13 season played out a little too vividly for the Edgewood College men's basketball team on Wednesday night. The Eagles played well for stretches and stormed back from a 14-point second half deficit to take a late lead, but Marian University scored on a put back with 42 seconds left to steal a 67-66 victory from the Eagles.
Edgewood College (3-12, 2-4 NAC) looked sunk when Marian's Brad Koth hit a three-pointer with 12:04 left to play to give the Sabres a 55-41 lead. However, the Eagles mounted a rally behind a three-point basket from Travis Schaaf and a layup by Brett Meinecke. A pair of Tal Diekvoss three-pointers sandwiched around two Meinecke free throws cut the Marian University (7-7, 3-3 NAC) lead to 60-57 with less than six minutes to play.
Edgewood College completed the comeback with about four minutes to go on a Trevor Neale jump shot and three straight free throws from Schaaf to even the score at 62-62. After Marian took a one-point lead, a layup from Joe Klocek put the Eagles ahead for the first time since leading 10-9. Marian's leading scorer Cody Veleke answered with a bucket inside to give the Sabres a 65-64 lead with 2:56 to play. Two possessions later, Klocek was fouled going to the basket. He hit both of his free throw attempts to give him a team-high 15 points on the night and put the Eagles back in front 66-65.
The Eagles held their slim one point margin for three possessions until the Sabres' Drew Binversie was fouled and sent to the line with 45 seconds to play. Binversie failed on both free throw attempts, but Veleke slipped around the Eagles' box out, snatched the rebound and put in a reverse layup for a 67-66 Sabre lead. Edgewood College had two chances for the lead, but a contested layup by Meinecke missed the mark, and after the Sabres missed another free throw with 1.9 seconds left, the Eagles were unable to get off a desperation shot.
Edgewood College had their second best shooting night of the season, making 55.8 percent of their shots from the field, including eight three-point baskets. After Klocek's 15 points and team-high seven rebounds, Meinecke tallied 14 points and a pair of three-pointers. Justin Williams scored eight points on 4-for-6 shooting.
The Sabres were led by Veleke's double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Stecker added 16 points. Marian shot just as well as the Eagles, hitting 55.6 percent from the field.
Edgewood College will head south of the border on Saturday for a meeting with Benedictine University. The Eagles and Eagles will tip off at 4:15 p.m. from the Rice Center in Lisle, Illinois.