Trojans Down Racers with 29 Points from Stidom

Box Score

CINCINNATI – Taylor led throughout much of Saturday's consolation game of the Cincinnati Christian Tournament, toppling Northwestern Ohio, 68-51, behind 29 points from Kyle Stidom.

It was two shots from Lane Vander Hulst that ignited the Trojan attack however, as back-to-back triples by Vander Hulst snapped a 4:10 scoreless streak to open the game and pushed TU even at 6-6. Stidom followed the long balls with a layup and TU scored the next eight points to cap a 14-0 rally and grab a 14-6 advantage.

UNOH (6-8) slowed the Taylor surge by battling back to claim a 21-20 lead, but Keaton Hendricks drilled a three-point shot to put TU back in front and the Trojans opened a 40-32 lead by the break.

Taylor dominated the second half, building a 58-38 lead by the midway point of the second stanza and never allowing the gap to shrink below 15 points, en route to securing the 68-51 win.

Free throw shooting proved critical in the contest, as Taylor sank 21-of-22 attempts from the line, with UNOH connecting on only 13-of-29 tries.

Stidom ended with 29 points on the strength of a program record-breaking 16-of-16 showing from the free throw line and added eight rebounds and three steals. Vander Hulst and Hendricks combined for 24 points and Vivian Aiken pulled down eight rebounds.

Taylor will have an extended break (7-7) before playing at Shawnee State (6-7) on Tuesday, December 29 at 4:00 pm. The game will be TU's final non-league clash of the regular season and will be a rematch of the Ivanhoes Classic Championship, which TU won, 72-70, over the Bears on December 12.