Box Score

A 50-point first half by the homestanding Ohio Northern squad proved to be just enough cushion to hold off a hard-charging John Carroll team as the the Blue Streaks fell by a 90-81 Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center in Ada, Ohio.

The Polar Bears were the first on the scoreboard and kept their lead throughout the first half. The Blue Streaks, however, were intent to stay in it and would close the gap to five points at the 6:14 mark in the first half when #Maurice Haynes II# laid in a shot to make the score 32-27. 

Unfortunately for John Carroll, ther host school had a finishing kick left in them to close at the half. Ohio Northern would rattle of 17 unanswered points en route to takeing a commanding 50-31 lead at the half. The Polar Bears made 10-15 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

Ohio Northern cooled off considerably int he second, missing all nine shot its took from long range. That enabled JCU to start making the long climb back into the game. 

The hard charging Blue Streaks were trailing 82-71 with over just over two minutes to play when Rudy Kirbus hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut ONU's lead down to just five points, 82-77.

Kurtis Brown missed his three-point attempt for the Polar Bears and Walsh grabbed the rebound in the last minute of the game. However, Kyle Meyer stole the ball from Walsh and was fouled. Meyer made both shots at the line for a seven point ONU lead with 36 seconds left.

In the Blue Streak's next possession, they failed to convert on a three-pointer and the Polar Bears would make free throws down the stretch to ice the game away.

Ohio Northern finished the game with a 52.8 shooting percentage compared to John Carroll's 43.8 percent field goal shooting.

John Carroll (10-10, 7-7 OAC) was paced by a career-high 27 points from Haynes, who was 12-19 from the field. Walsh added 26 and Kirbus added 14 as the Blue Streaks lost their third consecutive game.