Maughmer’s triple-double extends Jackets’ winning streak to five

By Emily Tuttle

The Cedarville men’s basketball team fought through a scrappy matchup and stoutly beat Wilberforce 98-70 on Wednesday night, January 17. 

Wilberforce’s fast-paced nature forced the Jackets to push the ball and run the floor the entire game. The Jackets forced 19 turnovers and scored 24 points off of Wilberforce’s carelessness. 

Cedarville played well as a team and moved the ball consistently. Although they shot only 31.7% from behind the arc, they attempted 41 threes and were encouraged to keep firing. 

Graduate student Chris Rogers led that shooting and scored his 1000th career point while putting up a team best of 19.

Rogers thanked his coaches and teammates for their large role in his accomplishment, and said he is grateful for the opportunity to play on Cedarville’s team and that his hard work over the years has paid off.

“Not going to lie, it means a ton to me,” Rogers said. “If you would’ve told me when I was a kid that I’d play in college at any level and score 1000 points I probably wouldn’t believe you.”

An enthusiastic crowd shared in Rogers’ success when his accomplishment was announced midgame.

But Rogers was not the only Jacket with a career night. Senior Jayvon Maughmer recorded his first career triple-double with an astounding 16 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. He credited the entire team for his successful evening.

“It’s just my teammates really,” Maughmer said. “I find them, they have open shots and they hit them.”

Although the Jackets kept Wilberforce at arm’s length on the scoreboard all evening, they struggled with turnovers, fouls and playing down to their competition. Wilberforce brought out a tough zone defense in the second half leading Cedarville to sloppily pass the ball and give Wilberforce a few easy points.

The Jackets, however, made adjustments and soon figured out Wilberforce’s strategy. They quickly passed the ball and found open teammates for buckets. The Jackets crashed the boards and capitalized on offensive rebounds with 22 second-chance points. 

Cedarville’s lead allowed a large number of players into the game where they successfully shared the ball. Six players scored double figures, and Jacob Drees was perfect from the field, hitting all of his seven attempts.

Coach Pat Estepp was satisfied with his team’s win but believed they could have increased their lead in certain stretches. He was proud of the men’s ability to play hard and stick with Wilberforce’s never-give-up mentality even in a non-conference matchup.

But the Jackets will need to clean up their game for Saturday’s G-MAC competition.

“The biggest thing for us going into Saturday is we’re just going to have to collectively compete harder, defend better and we’re going to have to be a lot sharper offensively,” Estepp said. 

They look to increase their five-game win streak against conference opponent Ashland at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Emily Tuttle is a freshman Broadcasting, Digital Media, and Journalism major. She has a passion for Philly sports, weight lifting and all things silly.