SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Taylor University didn't have the heralded
Division I-A transfer, but then again the Trojans were perfectly
happy with the contributions of their own big man as Doug Bell
scored 24 points to lead Taylor to a 65-60 win over Walsh in a
first-round Kiwanis-Wittenberg Holiday Classic game.
Taylor, ranked 17th in the nation in NAIA Division II, improved to
10-5 overall with the win, which moved the Trojans into the
championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday. Walsh, ranked 24th in NAIA
Division II, picked up 15 points in 18 foul-plagued minutes from
former University of Cincinnati standout Robert Whaley, dropped to
7-5 while losing its third straight game. The Cavaliers now head to
the consolation game at 3 p.m. Thursday.
This was a predictably tight game throughout, with Taylor holding a
slight advantage during most of the final 20 minutes, in part
thanks to Bell's 13 second-half points. After seven lead changes in
the first half, Taylor never allowed Walsh to get ahead.
Walsh won the rebounding battle 37-25, but Taylor converted 54.5
percent of their shots from the field in the game, led by Bell's
10-of-16. The Cavaliers put four players in double figures, led
Whaley, former College of Wooster letterwinner Randy Sistrunk with
12 points, Derek Chappell with 11 points off the bench and Corey
Jones added 10.
Taylor got 13 points and six rebounds from Will McGinley, in
support of Bell's efforts. R.J. Beucler added nine points and four
boards.
Taylor Battles past Walsh, 65-60
Posted: Dec 29, 2004