Men’s basketball team falls 127-111 to Grinnell

By: Ian Van Anden
Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team recently played host to the high-powered Grinnell basketball juggernaut on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The Grinnell Pioneers are the Midwest Conference’s top squad with a record now standing at 12-6 overall and 8-3 in the conference.

The Scots opened up the game staying in stride with the Pioneers, but towards the end of the half Grinnell began to pull away leading 70-58 at the sound of the buzzer.

The Scots could not find an answer for the Pioneers’ top scorer, John Grotberg, who dropped 24 points in just the first half. Grotberg not only holds the distinction as the Pioneers’ top scorer, but he doubles as the Midwest Conference’s high point man, averaging 31 points a game.

At the half, the Scots had three players in double digits. Senior Raun Singleton and sophomore Joe Terwelp led MC with 16 points each. Terwelp also led Monmouth with six rebounds. The Scots were winning the rebound battle, out-rebounding Grinnell 25-20.

Monmouth’s biggest struggle of the game was ball control. In the first half, the Scots turned the ball over 14 times and in the second half the Scots had 13 turnovers. MC opened the second half with three straight turnovers, allowing Grinnell to spread the lead even further. The Pioneers, in all, scored 32 points off Monmouth turnovers.

Thanks in most part to the performance of Grotberg, who ended the game with 43 points, and sophomore guard Bobby Long, with 22 points, Grinnell routed Monmouth 127-111. With the win, the Pioneers earned a season sweep of the Scots after also winning the meeting earlier in the season on Dec. 6.

Terwelp and Singleton both broke the 20-point barrier, 26 and 23 respectfully, but that was not enough to lift the Scots over Grinnell. Terwelp also snatched 11 rebounds for the Scots, a game high. Junior Andy Moore, who fouled out, had 20 points in only 21 minutes. Junior Blaise Rogers, who got off to a slow start with only two points in the first half, racked up 17 in the second to finish with 19.

The Scots also left a lot of points at the foul line, especially in the first half where they made just ten of their 24 free throws. They improved after the break sinking 15 of 17. MC finished 25 of 41 in the game, leaving 16 points at the line.

Monmouth’s next game will be on Friday, Feb. 2, when MC will host Lawrence University. Earlier this season, the Vikings trounced Monmouth 91-63. MC will need a win this time around to get a split the season series.