The University boys basketball team scored 16 consecutive third quarter points to break open a tight game and went on to defeat Muncie Burris 58-44 in a Pioneer Conference game.
Joe Martin (13), Max Greenamoyer (12) and Sam Mervis (10) scored in double figures as the Class 1A third ranked Trailblazers improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the PAAC North.
With the game tied at 29 early in the third quarter, Greenamoyer hit a three pointer off a pass from Mervis to give University the lead for good. After a Burris free throw, Greenamoyer found Martin for a basket and a 34-30 lead. Martin then found Jacob Sager for an and one bucket and foul shot. Nate Shatkowski scored off a Martin assist and Mervis followed with a three point play and 42-30 University lead. Baskets by Martin, Mervis and Jacob Brown pushed the lead to 48-30 and the Trailblazers coasted home from there, leading by as many as 20 late in the game.
University got off to a sluggish start, trailing by six with just over a minute left in the first quarter. A three pointer by Greenamoyer and an Eric Major old fashioned three pointer pulled the Blazers even at 13 at the end of the first quarter. The Owls jumped out to a pair of six point leads in the second quarter, the last at 25-19. The Blazers score the last eight points of the second quarter, sparked by their defense. Martin scored baskets off steals by Mervis and Greenamoyer before Sager stole the ball and scored. A bucket by Corey Ash-Simpson gave University a 27-25 halftime advantage.
“I was happy with how we responded in the second half,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “We came out a little flat tonight. Our defense picked up in the second half. Sam Mervis and Joe Martin did a great job in the third quarter getting to the rim and getting easy buckets.”
University is in action again tonight at Indianapolis Shortridge.
University 58, Muncie Burris 44
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 4-7 2-3 10 1
Max Greenamoyer 4-9 0-0 12 4
Jacob Sager 4-5 1-6 9 3
Camden Brown 1-6 1-2 3 1
Joe Martin 6-14 1-2 13 4
Nate Shatkowski 1-4 0-0 2 2
Eric Major 2-2 1-1 5 0
Quinn Steiner 0-3 0-0 0 0
Korey Ash-Simpson 2-4 0-0 4 0
Asher Thompson 0-1 0-0 0 0
Matt Jones 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 24-55 6-14 58 15
Score by Quarters
University 13 14 23 8 – 53
Burris 13 12 6 13 – 44
University 3-point shooting (4-20) Greenamoyer 4-9, Brown 0-3, Steiner 0-3, Martin 0-2, Shatkowski 0-2, Ash-Simpson 0-1.
University rebounds (29) Mervis 6, Martin 5, Major 5, Ash-Simpson 3, Brown 3, Shatkowski 3, Sager 2, Greenamoyer 1, Steiner 1.