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Printer-Friendly ModeCardinals improve playoff chances with second straight victory
February 12, 2007 —
Apparently, all Dorian Pierce needed to be consistent was to start.
The Cardinals' sophomore guard, starting his second straight game, scored 22 points as SVSU beat Northwood 74-65 in Midland Saturday.
Prior to starting Saturday's game and a 90-78 victory over Lake Superior State on Feb. 3, Pierce had gone through an inconsistent stretch in which he saw limited playing time. He exploded for 25 points in a loss to Ferris State on Jan. 31, and has almost put the Cardinals back into the postseason standings since.
The win put SVSU's conference record at 6-8, a half-game behind 7-8 Ferris State and one game ahead of 5-9 Hillsdale.
Much like their women counterparts in the evening's first game, the Cardinals took a lead late in the first half and never looked back. Pierce scored 17 of his 22 in the second half, which saw SVSU take an 11-point lead nearly seven and a half minutes in.
SVSU was able to extend its lead by shooting lights out in the second half, going 14-of-23, or 60 percent, from the field. The Cards held the Wolves to 42 percent shooting as they made their run, an improvement from the first half, when Northwood shot almost 64 percent.
Junior center Mike Zuiderveen contributed eight of his 11 points in the second half as well. He came off the bench to spell starter Kevin Thornton, who played just seven foul-plagued minutes.
Senior guard Martell Summers scored 11 points and added three assists, while sophomore guard Lawrence Ross scored nine points and dished out four assists.
The Timberwolves' junior guard, Asen Marchev, led the way for Northwood, scoring 18 points.
SVSU travels to Lake Superior State on Wednesday as the Cards try to further their chances for the postseason. The Cards will go to Detroit on Saturday to face Wayne State, which sits seventh in the conference with a 7-7 record, one game ahead of SVSU.
